Astrophysics and Astronomy

Astronomy and astrophysics are the fields where the technology astrophotonics researchers develop is put to use. While some differences exist between the two disciplines, they are both ultimately concerned with the universe at large. While not all astronomy or astrophysics is observational, all areas require knowledge of the surrounding universe, so instrumentation is vital to the continued work of astronomers and astrophysicists.

Image courtesy of NASA, ESA, and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA).

Astronomy vs. Astrophysics

Astronomy is, very broadly, the study of celestial objects and their properties. It is often considered a qualitative study of the universe. Astrophysics is the physics related study of these objects: interactions between objects, physical properties, and theoretical studies. However, most modern astronomy is considered astrophysics, so often the distinction is largely semantic.

Studying astronomy and astrophysics at the University of Sydney

The physics department at the University of Sydney is home to a world class astronomy and astrophysics team. More information can be found here, on the Sydney Institute for Astronomy (SIfA) webpage.