Astronomy

Aerospace engineering is concerned with designing and building aircraft and spacecraft. Aerospace engineering can be divided into two specializations: Aeronautical engineers handle design, manufacturing and maintenance of aircraft, helicopters & UAV etc and astronautically engineers, who design spacecraft, rockets, satellites, and others. Aeronautical engineering was the original term for the field. Both Aerospace Engineering and Aeronautical Engineers are niche branch of engineering with lot of similarities in syllabus with almost 90% overlap.
Astrophysics is the branch of astronomy that employs the principles of physics and chemistry "to ascertain the nature of the heavenly bodies, rather than their positions or motions in space. Among the objects studied are the Sun, other stars, galaxies, extrasolar planets, the interstellar medium and the cosmic microwave background.
The Indian Institute of Astrophysics is a premier institute devoted to research in astronomy, astrophysics and related physics. This is a full-time research programme where in the students work towards their Ph.D. degree under the supervision of an IIA faculty. Students may join the programme in either the first semester beginning in August or the second semester beginning in January. Entrance examination is held in December followed by interview in January. Students passing the JEST exam are interviewed in May / June. Eligibility criteria for PhD at IIA is M.Sc in Mathematics / Applied Physics / Applied Mathematics / Optics and Photonics / Instrumentation / Electronics etc . All around excellent academic performance from 12th to PG will help you fulfil your dream.

There are many colleges which offer courses in M.Sc. in Astrophysics. You would have to clear the JEST exam (Joint entrance Screening test) to qualify for admission in a course in Astrophysics. Some of the top colleges offering a course in astrophysics are mentioned below:
1) Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences, Nainital
2) International centre for theoretical sciences (TIFR), Bangalore
3) Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam
4) Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore
5) Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
6) Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhopal
7) Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata
8) Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune