Analysis of observed phenomena, along with making predictions as to the causes of what they observe, takes the majority of observational astronomers' time.
ɐnˈæləsˌɪs ʌv əbzˈɜːvd fɪnˈɑːmɪnə, ɐlˈɔŋ wɪð mˌeɪkɪŋ pɹɪdˈɪkʃənz æz tə ðə kˈɔːzᵻz ʌv wʌt ðeɪ əbzˈɜːv, tˈeɪks ðə mədʒˈɔːɹᵻɾi ʌv ɑːbzɚvˈeɪʃənəl ɐstɹˈɑːnəmɚz tˈaɪm.