Astrophysics can be described as all of the following:
An
academic discipline: one with academic departments, curricula and degrees; national and international societies; and specialized journals.
A scientific field (a branch of
science) – widely recognized category of specialized expertise within science, and typically embodies its own terminology and nomenclature. Such a field will usually be represented by one or more scientific journals, where peer reviewed research is published.
A branch or field of
space science – scientific discipline that involves space exploration and study natural phenomena and physical bodies occurring in outer space, such as space medicine and astrobiology.
Astronomical spectroscopy – study of astronomy using the techniques of spectroscopy to measure the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation, including visible light and radio, which radiates from stars and other celestial objects.
^"Carl Sagan dies at 62". CNN. 1996-12-20. Retrieved 2011-12-05. Sagan was a noted astronomer whose lifelong passion was searching for intelligent life in the cosmos.
Astronomy and Geophysics, The Royal Astronomical Society 'house journal' presenting scientific articles on major developing themes in astronomy and geophysics in succinct, readable and accessible form