Why study astronomy?

Question

I think learning about our solar system in important, because it directly effects life here on Earth, but seeing as how we can't even travel to our neighbor planets yet, what is the point of the all the knowledge astronomers gather? How can it actually help advance us as a species like all the other sciences? Is it just curiosity? Then why do we fund so much money on something that doesn't help us? Understanding stellar evolution isn't going to change the fact that the sun will likely be around longer then humanity as we know it. And while some powerful gamma pulses could drastically effect us, we couldn't tell if one was coming until it was too late. Maybe I'm just missing something though. Help me see how astronomic understand benefits us.

Answer 1

the key to the long lasting survival of mankind is to be an interplanetary... and someday an intergalactic species. astronomy shows us some of the dangers of the universe, and how we can use them to our advantage. it also gives us knowledge of our surroundings which is very good. lack of knowledge is a bigger threat to mankind than anything else.

astronomy will eventually help advance the human species. without astronomy, we wouldn't even consider landing on another celestial body, much less even thinking about colonizing on mars without astronomy.

and if it weren't for astronomy, i would be out of a job!

Answer 2

I find the 2nd Heaven interesting and somewhat beautiful, but never take your mind off of God and the even more spectacular 3rd Heaven. Some people get carried away and  believe we went to the moon, mars next, and very soon off... off.. and away to Zeta Reticuli when in reality they are NOT going anywhere soon and their governments just want to implant them with RFID Verichips (google 'Verichip Corp')!

Answer 3

u never know one day u ll using internet on mars and thinking why did i asked this question on yahoo answers ......years ago?

honey its the technology era u nver knw anything

Answer 4

If all the human race has as little curiosity about the Universe as that, then maybe mankind really is doomed!  I feel sorry for anyone who doesn't look up into the night sky and feel WOW!  I wonder what is out there!  It's that Wow factor that got me into astronomy in the first place, and my enthusiasm has never waned.

Answer 5

Astronomical research is part of physics.  Currently the best way to study some of the forces of nature is through astronomy.

Astronomy relates to our origins---its part of the scientific story about how we got where we are, from the beginning of the Universe.

Answer 6

Knowing is better than not knowing.

Date, time, and location are benefits of astronomy.  Knowledge is power.

Answer 7

Because its there. People study astronomy because they want to know what is out there why its out there and what its doing out there. If you want to know if there is It's curiosity that fuels an astronomer. And because the universe is there.

Answer 8

picture the sky above us as a solid ceiling of white... opaque and boring.

If that were the case, then not invesitgating the Universe would make some sense, but its not.

How can you not want to see what's over the next hill?