astronomer

noun

as·​tron·​o·​mer ə-ˈsträ-nə-mər 

: a person who is skilled in astronomy or who makes observations of celestial phenomena

Examples of astronomer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The study authors named the beetle as a homage to French astronomer Camille Flammarion and Haikun He, an amateur collector who had donated several other amber specimens to the authors, according to the study. —Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 24 Oct. 2024

The university, of course, is a forward-looking institution, bent on producing the future’s finest physicists, astronomers, computer scientists and mechanical engineers. —Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2024

For almost a decade now, a dedicated team of Lithuanian astronomers has been trying to answer this conundrum using a state-of-the-art spectrograph at a telescope some 70 km outside Vilnius. —Bruce Dorminey, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024

There seem to be a number of plausible ways astronomers might define the 'edge' of a galaxy — perhaps where concentrations of gas and dust drop below a certain threshold or even via a galaxy's gravitational influence. —Conor Feehly, Discover Magazine, 15 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, "one versed in astronomy or astrology," from astronomie astronomy + -er -er entry 2

Note: Alternatively, Oxford English Dictionary, third edition, and Middle English Dictionary see the English word as derived from Medieval and Late Latin astronomus "astronomer" (borrowed from Greek astronómos) plus the agent suffix -er.

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above