Planetary Science with Astronomy
Planetary science with astronomy addresses two interconnected fields that together illuminate our place in the cosmos. Planetary science investigates the formation, composition, geology, atmospheres, and potential habitability of planets, moons, and smaller bodies throughout the solar system and beyond. Spacecraft missions have transformed understanding of these worlds in recent decades, revealing ocean worlds beneath the ice of Europa and Enceladus, vast canyon systems on Mars, and the extraordinary diversity of bodies in the outer solar system.
Astronomy provides the complementary observational and physical framework for understanding the universe in which these bodies exist, from the physics of stars and galaxies to the origins of the elements.
At Birkbeck College, this part-time programme offers a broad introduction to planetary science and exploration, encompassing geological, astronomical, and astrobiological aspects, in a flexible format that can be studied alongside work or other commitments. You will explore the science of planets and moons, the methods by which astronomers and planetary scientists investigate the solar system and beyond, and the growing scientific interest in the possibility of life elsewhere in the universe. The programme develops both the physical understanding and the scientific reasoning skills that the field demands.
Graduates from planetary science and astronomy programmes go on to work in space agencies, research institutions, university astronomy and planetary science departments, the aerospace and satellite industry, science communication, and education. The quantitative and analytical skills the programme develops are also applicable in data science, environmental science, and a range of technology and engineering roles. Many graduates pursue postgraduate study in planetary science, astrophysics, astrobiology, or space science, particularly those drawn to research careers at the frontier of human knowledge about the solar system and the universe.