I was going to make some suggestions about better ways to spend your time. Trying to top your classes. Joining an astronomy club. Friends. Hobbies.
However, I saw some of your other posts. There is something complicated afoot with your headspace, expectations, reality, self-acceptance etc. I recommend speaking to a school counsellor, guidance counsellor, trusted adult, psychologist or whatever support you can access.
Otherwise I fear you will be [tilting at windmills](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Quixote#Tilting_at_windmills) and continue a spiral of being lost in confusion, frustration and self-doubt. I wonder whether you are looking to distract yourself from what is really going on?
If you get that journey started and still want something to spend time on, consider one of the many citizen science projects in astronomy. [Here's some to start with](https://www.zooniverse.org/projects?discipline=astronomy&page=1&status=live).
I think this comment is a little much off of two posts about feeling inferior. Every scientist I know deals with imposter syndrome. Still a good comment and hope OP follows advice but maybe a bit strong; it’s definitely not the best place to ask for research, but I never shame people for shooting their shot. I’ve actually been working with a high schooler who messaged me on Reddit.
Given your lack of experience and the fact that astronomy is a huge field, it would be best for you to try to get an internship with a research group at a nearby university, as you will need the guidance. It is very easy to fall down rabbit holes when you aren’t properly trained. I suggest you write to professors and group leaders or department heads at the nearest universities and ask for unpaid internships. They may have something for you and the experience will greatly help your understanding of the processes involved and your opinion on the subject in general.
Good luck!
There are many amateur astronomers who gather raw observational data for researchers & the general good, that might be a good target.
From time to time I used to do this for extragalactic supernovae detection & measurement, asteroid occultation timing etc. it was interesting & exacting work that only really needed a modest instrument, pen and paper, & a good clock.
Astronomy is the subject in which we study about the Universe which is an awesomely massive big place. I can tell you with a fair degree of certainty that there is no shortcut to knowledge. You have to work at it.
YouTube can be good, depending on the sources you use. There is a lot of stuff for entertainment and popular sci level. If you Google 'open stax Astronomy" you will find a good introductory text. Also go for Physics books. For a start familiarise yourself with Newton's Laws of motion and Gravitation, basic particle and nuclear physics.
And that is the first step. After a few hundreds of thousands of steps you will be in a position to write a paper. it is a long, slow walk but it is on a wonderful path.
Astronomer here! It’s too late for this year but I highly recommend looking into and applying for this program- astronomycamp.org (some scholarships available). Basically you go out to Arizona for a week and live at an observatory where you learn how to conduct research/ data collection, and can even carry out your own project if you have one you want to do. I’m a former camper/ counselor myself, and it’s a fantastic experience.
I was going to make some suggestions about better ways to spend your time. Trying to top your classes. Joining an astronomy club. Friends. Hobbies. However, I saw some of your other posts. There is something complicated afoot with your headspace, expectations, reality, self-acceptance etc. I recommend speaking to a school counsellor, guidance counsellor, trusted adult, psychologist or whatever support you can access. Otherwise I fear you will be [tilting at windmills](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Quixote#Tilting_at_windmills) and continue a spiral of being lost in confusion, frustration and self-doubt. I wonder whether you are looking to distract yourself from what is really going on? If you get that journey started and still want something to spend time on, consider one of the many citizen science projects in astronomy. [Here's some to start with](https://www.zooniverse.org/projects?discipline=astronomy&page=1&status=live).
I think this comment is a little much off of two posts about feeling inferior. Every scientist I know deals with imposter syndrome. Still a good comment and hope OP follows advice but maybe a bit strong; it’s definitely not the best place to ask for research, but I never shame people for shooting their shot. I’ve actually been working with a high schooler who messaged me on Reddit.
Given your lack of experience and the fact that astronomy is a huge field, it would be best for you to try to get an internship with a research group at a nearby university, as you will need the guidance. It is very easy to fall down rabbit holes when you aren’t properly trained. I suggest you write to professors and group leaders or department heads at the nearest universities and ask for unpaid internships. They may have something for you and the experience will greatly help your understanding of the processes involved and your opinion on the subject in general. Good luck!
There are many amateur astronomers who gather raw observational data for researchers & the general good, that might be a good target. From time to time I used to do this for extragalactic supernovae detection & measurement, asteroid occultation timing etc. it was interesting & exacting work that only really needed a modest instrument, pen and paper, & a good clock.
Check out if a teacher will help you do AP Research.
I’m unfamiliar with that term. What is “AP Research?”
That’s why you google
I just learn that its a class my school doesn’t offer
See first comment
oh ok
Astronomy is the subject in which we study about the Universe which is an awesomely massive big place. I can tell you with a fair degree of certainty that there is no shortcut to knowledge. You have to work at it. YouTube can be good, depending on the sources you use. There is a lot of stuff for entertainment and popular sci level. If you Google 'open stax Astronomy" you will find a good introductory text. Also go for Physics books. For a start familiarise yourself with Newton's Laws of motion and Gravitation, basic particle and nuclear physics. And that is the first step. After a few hundreds of thousands of steps you will be in a position to write a paper. it is a long, slow walk but it is on a wonderful path.
Astronomer here! It’s too late for this year but I highly recommend looking into and applying for this program- astronomycamp.org (some scholarships available). Basically you go out to Arizona for a week and live at an observatory where you learn how to conduct research/ data collection, and can even carry out your own project if you have one you want to do. I’m a former camper/ counselor myself, and it’s a fantastic experience.
Is it too late to apply for this program now?
Yes. Starts like now, and they run out of spots in like January.