Editing Outline of space science (section)

=== Astronomy ===
{{Main|Astronomy}}
{{See also|Outline of astronomy}}
[[File:The Celestial Zoo infographic wikimedia.png|thumb|right|350px|The diversity found in the different types and scales of astronomical objects make the field of study increasingly specialized.]]
[[File:CMB Timeline300 no WMAP.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A proposed timeline of the origin of space, from [[physical cosmology]]]]

See [[astronomical object]] for a list of specific types of entities which scientists study.  See [[Earth's location in the universe]] for an orientation.

* Subfields of astronomy:
** [[Astrophysics]] – branch of [[astronomy]] that deals with the [[physics]] of the [[universe]], including the physical properties of [[astronomical object|celestial object]]s, as well as their interactions and behavior.<ref>{{cite web | title=astrophysics | publisher=Merriam-Webster, Incorporated | url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/astrophysics | access-date=2011-05-22 }}</ref> Among the objects studied are [[galaxy|galaxies]], [[star]]s, [[planet]]s, [[exoplanet]]s, the [[interstellar medium]] and the [[cosmic microwave background]]; and the properties examined include [[luminosity]], [[density]], [[temperature]], and [[chemistry|chemical]] composition. The subdisciplines of theoretical astrophysics are:
*** [[Computational astrophysics]] – The study of astrophysics using computational methods and tools to develop computational models.
*** [[Plasma astrophysics]] – studies properties of [[Plasma (physics)|plasma]] in outer space.
*** [[Space physics]] – study of plasmas as they occur naturally in the Earth's upper atmosphere (aeronomy) and within the Solar System.
*** [[Solar physics]] – Sun and its interaction with the remainder of the Solar System and interstellar space.
*** [[Astronomy#Stellar astronomy|Stellar astronomy]] – concerned with [[Star formation]], physical properties, [[main sequence]] life span, [[variable star|variability]], [[stellar evolution]] and extinction.
*** [[Galactic astronomy]] – deals with the structure and components of our galaxy and of other galaxies.
*** [[Extragalactic astronomy]] – study of objects (mainly galaxies) outside our galaxy, including [[Galaxy formation and evolution]].
** [[Cosmology]]
*** [[Physical cosmology]] – origin and evolution of the universe as a whole. The study of cosmology is theoretical astrophysics at its largest scale.
*** [[Cosmochemistry|Chemical cosmology]] - study of the chemical composition of matter in the universe and the processes that led to those compositions.
*** [[Quantum cosmology]] – the study of cosmology through the use of [[quantum field theory]] to explain phenomena [[general relativity]] cannot due to limitations in its framework.
** [[Planetary Science]] – study of planets, moons, and planetary systems.
*** [[Atmospheric science]] – study of atmospheres and weather.
*** [[Planetary geology]]
*** [[Planetary oceanography]]
*** [[Exoplanetology]] – various planets outside of the Solar System
** [[Astrochemistry]] – studies the abundance and reactions of molecules in the Universe, and their interaction with radiation.

* Interdisciplinary studies of astronomy:
** [[Astrobiology]] – studies the advent and [[evolution]] of [[biological system]]s in the universe.
** [[Space biology]] – studies to build a better understanding of how spaceflight affects living systems in spacecraft, or in ground-based experiments that mimic aspects of spaceflight<ref>{{cite web | url=https://science.nasa.gov/biological-physical/programs/space-biology | title=Space Biology Program &#124; Science Mission Directorate }}</ref>
** [[Space chemistry]] – Reactions of elements to form more complex compounds, such as amino acids, are key to the study of chemistry in space.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://sta.ie/lesson/space-chemistry | title=Space chemistry &#124; Science & Technology in Action }}</ref>
*** [[Astrobotany]] – Sub-discipline of botany that is the study of plants in space environments.
** [[Archaeoastronomy]] – studies ancient or traditional astronomies in their cultural context, utilizing archaeological and anthropological evidence.
** [[Space archaeology]] – the study of human artifacts in outer space
** [[Forensic astronomy]] – the use of astronomy, the scientific study of celestial objects, to determine the appearance of the sky at specific times in the past.

* Techniques used in astronomical research:
** [[Theoretical astronomy]] – mathematical modelling of celestial entities and phenomena
** [[Astrometry]] – study of the position of objects in the sky and their changes of position. Defines the system of coordinates used and the [[kinematics]] of objects in our galaxy.
** [[Photometry (astronomy)|Photometry]] – study of how bright celestial objects are when passed through different filters
** [[Spectroscopy]] – study of the spectra of astronomical objects
** [[Observational astronomy]] – practice of observing celestial objects by using telescopes and other astronomical apparatus. [[Observatory|Observatories]] on the ground as well as [[Space observatory|space observatories]] take measurements of celestial entities and phenomena. It is concerned with recording data. The subdisciplines of [[observational astronomy]] are generally made by the specifications of the detectors: 
*** [[Radio astronomy]] –  >300&nbsp;μm
*** [[Submillimetre astronomy]] – 200&nbsp;μm to 1&nbsp;mm
*** [[Infrared astronomy]] – 0.7–350&nbsp;μm
*** [[Optical astronomy]] – 380–750&nbsp;nm
*** [[Ultraviolet astronomy]] – 10–320&nbsp;nm
*** [[High-energy astronomy]]
**** [[Cosmic ray astronomy]] - charged particles with very high kinetic energy
**** [[X-ray astronomy]] – 0.01–10&nbsp;nm
**** [[Gamma-ray astronomy]] – <0.01&nbsp;nm
**** [[Neutrino astronomy]] – [[Neutrino]]s
*** [[Gravitational wave astronomy]] – [[Graviton]]s