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

In a surprising discovery, astronomers have found an enormous, shell-like structure called a nova super-remnant (NSR) in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), a galaxy located approximately 160,000 light-years from Earth. —Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 27 Sep. 2025

Amateur astronomers identified the object as Starlink-1586, a SpaceX satellite launched in 2020 from Florida. —Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 26 Sep. 2025

For now, the strange beads and missing arms remain unsolved, but thanks to JWST, astronomers finally have the images — and the mysteries — to chase. —Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 25 Sep. 2025

David Kipping is an astronomer at Columbia University and the creator of the YouTube channel Cool Worlds. —Adam Frank, Big Think, 25 Sep. 2025

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

Rhymes for astronomer

• ionomer
• monomer