Should a Christian study astronomy? What does the Bible say?

TL;DR:

Christians can study astronomy as it reveals the Creator who made all the stars. There is still much to learn about space and the stars, and the more we learn, the more we will be pointed back to God.

what does the bible say?

"Astronomy" is from the Greek meaning "star formation." It is the branch of science dedicated to studying bodies in outer space. Since astronomy is an investigation of God's creation, it is perfectly acceptable for Christians to study astronomy. Where we get caught up is when scientists draw conclusions about the data that contradict the Bible. The Bible tells us God formed the heavenly objects through His words. As Christians—particularly Christians interested in science—we need to understand that despite the fact astronomy has been studied for thousands of years, we still know very little. Even the latest interpretation is based on incomplete data. It is good to study God's creation, as long as we recognize that it is His creation. Study the stars, and trust that the more we learn, the more we will be pointed back to God.

from the old testament

Genesis 1:16 says, "And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars."
Psalm 147:4 says of God, "He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names."
God also warned about studying the stars and worshiping them instead of the God who made them: "And beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them, things that the Lord your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven" (Deuteronomy 4:19).
The Bible does mention astronomy—mostly in a poetic form that may or may not be meant to declare scientific fact. Isaiah 40:22 appears to describe the expansion of the universe. Job 26:10 seems to say the earth is a globe, not a flat surface. Job 26:7 says that God "hangs the earth on nothing"—an apt description of a planet in space.

from the new testament

The New Testament acknowledges that the Magi studied the stars to find Jesus (Matthew 2:1–2). Overall, the stars pointed to God's sovereignty and divine revelation through His Word, as seen in Matthew 2:5–6.

implications for today

The problem with a Christian studying astronomy isn't in the subject matter but in the culture of those who study the subject matter. Astronomy is one of the hardest of the sciences to understand, in part because the objects of study are so far away and not subject to human interaction. Scientific theories are validated either by experimentation or by discovering phenomena that had previously been predicted. We can't do experiments on a quasar. And considering the supposed time it takes for stars to change, it isn't easy to predict the phenomenon. Sometimes predictions do turn out to be true; earlier astronomers were proved to be right when they postulated that some stars wobble because of the gravitational pull of revolving planets, but sometimes they're wrong; science would indicate that at their supposed ages, the gas giants should have very weak magnetic fields—Saturn does, but Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune have very strong fields. Overall, the study of astronomy is meant to point us to the Creator, who made us and the universe. This Creator loves us and died for us so we can be free and live with Him in heaven forever.

understand

Astronomy reveals God's glory as Creator but should not lead to the worship of celestial bodies.
The Bible affirms that the study of stars points to God's sovereignty.
Christians can study astronomy to deepen their faith and recognize God's presence in creation.

reflect

How can studying astronomy deepen your understanding of God's creation and sovereignty in your life?
How have you encountered conflicting perspectives between scientific conclusions and your faith? How have you navigated those challenges?
How can you guard against the temptation to elevate scientific interpretations above the truth of Scripture when exploring the universe?

engage

"Astrolatry" (worship of heavenly objects) was literal. Many cultures worshiped the sun, moon, and stars as gods. In fact, the planets in our solar system are named after Roman gods. In our day, this worship is more subtle. We don't tend to think that stars, planets, quasars, and comets are deities, but many do value their interpretations of astronomical data higher than the historical account given in the Bible.
What are the dangers in studying astronomy, and what should we be mindful of in seeking to honor the Lord while studying astronomy?
How can the study of astronomy serve as a form of worship of God and acknowledgment of His creativity?