[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 0 - 09:32:28 ]
Hello! Today's Space Scientists Online QuestChat with Astronomer Sten Odenwald will begin at 11 am Pacific (2 pm Eastern).

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 1 - 09:53:47 ]
In addition to answering your questions about astronomy & space science in general, Sten would be happy to tell you everything that you'd like to know about the upcoming IMAGE mission. Sten is a member of the science team. IMAGE will produce spectacular photos that represent the plasma environment around the Earth. To find out more about IMAGE, go to Sten's web site at: http://image.gsfc.nasa.gov/poetry/

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 2 - 10:29:48 ]
If you're unable to make it to the chat room at the appointed hour, go ahead and send your questions now. Once the chat begins at 11 am Pacific, your questions will automatically appear in the chat room for Sten to answer.

[ StenOdenwald/Astronomer - 4 - 11:03:32 ]
RE: [Sandy/NASAChatHost] A special welcome today to Classroom Connect, the Glenn Commission and Michelle Mock in Washington, DC!
Hello everyone! Im ready for some more great questions!

[ StenOdenwald/Astronomer - 11 - 11:14:45 ]
RE: [Sarin] You named various places where you have been employed over the years. What did you do at these different places, such as the Naval Research Laboratory? Also, what are you doing now with public education? Are you actually involved with the students?
Hi Sarin, Astronomers tend to move around a lot when they are just getting started in the profession. I started out at the NAval research Lab in their Space Sciences Division, continuing my research intoi the infrared properties of the Milky Way .We built a special infrared camera and used it in balloon flights and at observatories to 'photograph' infant stars. I did this for about 10 years, then worked on the COBE satellite program. All the while I have written dozens of articles for magazines, and several books for the general public. I still do research about 1/3 of my time, but as the Education and Public Outreach manager for a satellite such as IMAGE, I am now 'in my element' working with the K-12 community to turn the science into something teachers can use in their classroom.

[ StenOdenwald/Astronomer - 12 - 11:17:03 ]
RE: [Sarin] You mentioned there were 6500 astronomers. Are there enough jobs in this field? What are some of the jobs and are they all as secluded as yours?
There are about 6500 professional astronomers, and in such a small community the competition is very fierce to get a long-term stable career out of your effort. I estimate that we have about twice as many astronomers as this society is willing to provide stable long term careers that last more than a decade. Space is very popular, and people are now willing to settle for just about any kind of space career in order to keep their own personal dreams alive.

[ StenOdenwald/Astronomer - 13 - 11:19:44 ]
RE: [Sarin] What exactly does a contract astronomer do?
We do not have tenured academic positions, nore civil service permanency. Instead, we get employed by private industry to 'support' space contracts that they bid for. These often involve satellite data analysis, and from this we can usually get 1/4 to 1/2 of our time to get our own research grants from NASA or NSF to carry out our own research, rather than that which our 'clients' may want us to do. Our clients, by the way, are usually civil service astronomers with permanent positions.

[ StenOdenwald/Astronomer - 14 - 11:20:49 ]
RE: [Sarin-Mr.Rodkey/KeystoneOaksHighSchool] Where did you grow up and from what college did you get your undergraduate degree?
I grew up in Oakland California and got my Ba in astronomy at UC Berkeley. I then went to graduate school in astronomy at Harvard University where I graduated in 1982.

[ StenOdenwald/Astronomer - 15 - 11:21:28 ]
RE: [Sarin-Mr.Rodkey/KeystoneOaksHighSchool] If you could leave one piece of advice for the graduating class of 2000, what would it be? Thanks!
Hmmm...Which graduating class do you mean? High School? Elementary? College?

[ StenOdenwald/Astronomer - 17 - 11:29:30 ]
RE: [StenOdenwald/Astronomer] Hmmm...Which graduating class do you mean? High School? Elementary? College?
Oops...silly me..I see from your handle that you are at a High School. Congratulations!! My advice is a mixture of being optimistic about your future, and also a mixture of pessimism about what you may have to endure to reach your goal. I started my 'dream' when I was 10 years old. Thats a very long time to work towards a goal, and you should be very very careful that you allow yourself enough flexability to dream other dreams too! My big downfall in graduate school, which nearly cost me my future career, was one of thinking too narrowly about what I was willing to explore in astronomical research. You have to be flexible. At the same time, if you want to get into the sciences, in college you have little choice about what corses you need to take. Still, there is always room to think about careers RELATED to your dream...Hope this helps in some way!

[ StenOdenwald/Astronomer - 19 - 11:41:49 ]
RE: [Sandy/NASAChatHost] Since there are no more questions for Sten, we're going to let him get back to work now. Thanks to Sarin at Keystone Oaks High School for the great questions today. You will find an archive of Sten's chat later today. Be sure to check out the upcoming Space Scientists Online chats at: http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/sso/chats
Hope the Class of 2000 gets to do some exciting things in the next 20 years! Go for it!!