Astronomy paper topics can be quite involved and intimidating; particularly to students outside of the discipline. Exploration of astronomy topics can include the utilization of other lenses of inquiry. For example, history students could select historical analysis of astronomy topics like “Early Astronomers: Ptolemy, Aristotle, Copernicus and Galileo.” Similarly, literature students could choose an astronomy related topic like, “Representations of Space Travel in Science Fiction: Ray Bradbury and Arthur C. Clarke.” Both of these examples would involve exploring astronomy through an interdisciplinary perspective. For pure students of astronomy or students of astrophysics, examining specific phenomena like dark matter or wormholes could be a better course of action.
When selecting a topic, students should first determine the lens of inquiry related to their respective field of study or interest and second, students should have realistic expectations of the degree to which a topic can be explored in the project size established. The amount of material that can be covered in a 100 page dissertation would be much more extensive than that which could be covered in a rudimentary three page discussion. Below is a list of some topics that fall within the scope of inquiry specific to astronomy topics. This list only is a small sampling of the many directions in which a student could go for their exploration of an astronomy related topic.
Your grading rubric can be found here.
- The Big Bang Theory and the origin of the universe
- Stephen Hawking’s A Brief History in Time: An analysis
- Black holes
- The sociological implications of the space shuttle Challenger disaster
- The future of NASA and space exploration
- The moon landing
- A history of astronomy
- Copernicus and heliocentric models of the galaxy
- The Hubble telescope
- Life cycles of stars
- The implications of the moon on Earth
- Space debris and human impact on the solar system
- Haley’s Comet
- Heavenly bodies and human mythology
- The great crunch
- Newton and the Catholic church
- Early astronomers: Ptolemy, Aristotle, Copernicus and Galileo
- Why explore space
- The space race and the Cold War
- Dark matter and dark energy
- Beyond the Milky Way
- Pluto
- The rings of Saturn: An analysis
- Representations of space travel in Science Fiction: Ray Bradbury and Arthur C. Clarke
- A history of the Apollo missions
- Manned space flight
- Colonization of other planets
- Wormholes
- Understanding space-time
- Implications of speed of light travel
- Time travel: Fiction versus theory
- Nebulae and masses of matter
- The effects of zero gravity on humans
- Astrophysics: Interdisciplinary views of space
- Controversies in astrophysics
- First contact and implications of life on other planets
- Careers in astronomy
- Stars and navigation
- The origins of life on planet Earth
- Human views of the universe
- Space weather
- The sun and its relationship to the Earth
- Quantum physics and astronomy
- Robotic space exploration
- Constellations and human interpretation
- Future business opportunities in space
- NASA’s mission to Mars
- Why Mr. Keelty wants to send Kaitlyn Trusty to Mars
- The search for life on other planets/moons