(UK, Australia, informal) An expert in a field relating to the stars, especially astronomy.
2006, Jonathan Green, "Know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em", The Age, 19 August 2006:Perhaps while confirming the diminution of Pluto's status, the astro-boffins might like to consider a name change for the U-planet.
2007, Mark Kermode, " 2007: a scorching new space odyssey", The Observer, 25 March 2007:Space travel turns into a journey to hell. 'I created the Event Horizon to reach the stars!' burbles Sam Neill's astro-boffin. 'But she's gone much further than that - to a dimension of pure chaos, pure evil!'
2008, Andy McNab, "Let's make-up", 4men, 10 April 2008:'The birth of new galaxies' - I'll produce unlimited copy, that'll leave the entire astro-boffin community scratching their heads in disbelief as they're forced to re-evaluate the whole time/space continuum...
