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

By examining how this dust reflects starlight, astronomers can piece together how planets grow and how systems like our own take shape over time. —Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 5 Dec. 2025

For years, astronomers have relied on a model called ΛCDM (Lambda–Cold Dark Matter) to describe how these ingredients work. —Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 29 Nov. 2025

The 29 Palms Astronomy Club offers private nighttime presentations with expert astronomers and high-powered telescopes. —Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 29 Nov. 2025

In the 1970s astronomers used a variation on this technique to get sharp images of several nearby large stars, including Antares in Scorpius and everyone’s favorite incipient supernova, Betelgeuse in Orion. —Phil Plait, Scientific American, 27 Nov. 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