There are about 10,000 astronomers around the world - but what do they do?!
Astronomers are usually based at a university, and they often spend some of their time teaching. But when the students are away they get time to do some 'proper work' - their research. This is especially true during the summer holidays!
Maybe once a year (or more, if they are lucky), an astronomer gets the chance to use a world-class telescope, either on-the-ground or in space.
I've been lucky enough to get time on the UK Infra-Red Telescope (UKIRT), one of the British telescopes based in Hawaii. On the 31st of August, I set off on the very long journey... London to Los Angeles (11 hours!), catching another plane a few hours later to Honolulu (a 6 hour journey), staying overnight in a hotel before finally catching an early-morning short flight (1 hour) to Hawaii's big island - from where I took the photograph of the summit below.
After a day (trying) to recuperate (the spare day also being useful in case I missed a connecting flight), I headed to the Joint Astronomy Centre in the coastal town of Hilo for a debriefing of how to use the telescope, and to discuss any issues. A lot of this time was spent discussing the health and safety issues. We are working nights, with heavy equipment, at 4,200m - this incredible altitude (almost half-way up Mount Everest!) makes altitude sickness a real and ever-present danger.
I then travelled from sea-level, half way up to the summit to Hale Pohaku - the astronomers and support staff hotel. While it is some way from the telescopes, it is considered to be a safe altitude, at only 2800m.
More about what we are actually observing in another post...!
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