Astronomy With Reality

Generally, objects beyond our solar system are

handled in the field of astrophysics. These

include stars, the interstellar medium, other

objects in our Milky Way Galaxy, and galaxies

beyond our own.

NASA defines astrophysics as the investigation

of astronomical bodies by remote sensing from

Earth or its vicinity. Because the targets of the

astrophysicist are generally beyond human

reach even with our fastest rockets, astrophysicists concentrate solely on what the electromagnetic spectrum can tell them about the

universe. NASA's astrophysics program has

three goals: to understand the origin and fate

of the universe; to describe the fundamental

laws of physics; and to discover the nature and

evolution of galaxies, stars, and the solar system. The investigations of astrophysicists are

carried out by instruments aboard free-flying

satellites, sounding rockets that penetrate into

space for brief periods, high-flying aircraft and

high-altitude balloons, and Space Shuttle missions.