If you're wondering what it takes to become a scientist whose job is to search for ET, Seth Shostak has something to say about that.

If you'd like to learn more, here are a couple of places you can start:

Books:

Fraknoi, A. Disney's Wonderful World of Space.  2007, Disney Publishing.

Fraknoi, A. & Schatz, D. When the Sun Goes Dark.  (about eclipses) 2017, National Science Teachers Assn. Publishing.

NASA Resources:
https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/