太空競賽加速發展
Astronomy is often described as one of the oldest natural sciences.
天文學常被描述為最古老的自然科學之一。
biology(n.)生物學；physics (n.)物理；chemistry (n.)化學
Many ancient civilizations across the world came to understand celestial objects were following universal rules.
世界上許多古老文明了解到天體是遵循通則運行的。
civilization (n.)文明；ancient Greek civilization 古希臘文明； ancient Egyptian civilization 古埃及文明；modern civilization 現代文明celestial (adj.) 天的,天空的,天國的universal (adj.)普遍的,共同的
Astronomy was well established as a discipline by the late 19th century, but not as a profession.
天文學到了19世紀後期已被認可是一門學科，但還不是一項職業。
establish (v.)創立,建立discipline (n.) (大學的)學術學科,專業知識領域profession (n.)職業；professional (adj.)專業的,職業的
As a result, many astronomers spent their time teaching rather than conducting research.
因此，許多天文學家把時間花在教學而不是研究上。
as a result 結果,因此rather than 而不是conduct research=do research 作研究；conduct an experiment 作實驗
In the 20th century, the Space Race between the US and USSR further accelerated astronomy’s development.
在20世紀時，美國和蘇聯間的太空競賽更加速了天文學的發展。
USSR= Union of Soviet Socialist Republicsaccelerate (v.)加速, 促進
Mathematicians and physicists were applying their knowledge of astronomy to help their country to be the first to launch into space, and then the Moon.
數學家和物理學家運用他們天文學的知識幫助國家成為第一個發射火箭到太空和月亮的國家。
physicist (n.)物理學家；physician (n.)醫生apply (v.)申請,應用
Because the field of astronomy was diversifying so quickly, the American Astronomy Society started to form new divisions, each promoting a different branch of astronomy or astronomy-related science, like planetary science, astrophysics, solar physics, and dynamical astronomy.
由於天文學領域很快變得更多樣化，美國天文學會開始建立新的類別，各自推廣不同分支的天文學或天文學相關的科學，像是行星科學、天文物理學、太陽物理學和動態天文學。
field (n.)領域diversify (v.)多樣化branch (n.)樹枝,分支
Astronomy is now a field that encompasses physics, mathematics, geology, engineering, and much more.
現在天文學是涵蓋物理學、數學、地質學和工程學等等的領域。
encompass (v.)包含
Nowadays, astronomy continues to fascinate people.
現今，天文學仍繼續使人們著迷。
fascinate (v.)深深吸引,使著迷
Even Brian May, guitar player of the legendary British rock band Queen, holds a PhD in astrophysics.
連英國傳奇樂團「皇后合唱團」的吉他手布萊恩．梅都有天文物理學的博士學位。
legend (n.),傳說,傳奇故事；legendary (adj.)傳奇的,有名的