QUESTION:
How would I get started as a professional astronomer? What grades will I
need for this?

ANSWER from Jim Bell on April 2, 1998:
The best way to get started into an astronomy career is to get yourself a
decent telescope and become familiar with the night sky by observing,
reading books, and talking with other amateur and professional astronomers. 
In the U.S. some good beginners telescopes can be purchased for a few
hundred dollars. Or maybe there is a local astronomy club near you that will
let you use their equipment?

Secondly: take as many math and physics and computer classes in school as
you can, both in high school and eventually in college. Some universities
offer a major in astronomy, others offer it through a physics department.
Astronomy is also VERY heavily computer-oriented these days, for image
processing, data analysis, theoretical modeling, paper writing, etc. It's
sad but true that most professional astronomers spend less than about 10% of
their time actually at a telescope! But knowledge of physics (classical and
quantum), chemistry, math, and even some biology is very useful. If you're
interested in instruments, some engineering courses, including electrical
engineering, could also help.

It's a pretty competitive field these days, as it is mostly supported by
government funding, and government funding in at least the U.S. and much of
Europe is decreasing every year. So you should try to get the best grades
possible, and make yourself stand apart above the crowd, somehow.

Finally, perhaps the most important requirements are enthusiasm, willingness
to work long, hard hours on what are sometimes unsolvable problems, and the
ability to share your love of science and astronomy with others.

Jim