Awful moon-starers? (11)

I believe the answer is:

astronomers

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'awful moon-starers?' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.

'awful moon-starers?' is the wordplay.
'awful' is an anagram indicator.
'moon'+'starers'='moonstarers'
'moonstarers' anagrammed gives 'ASTRONOMERS'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for astronomers that I've seen before include "Monster oars (anag.)" , "Moon-starers (anag)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Independent.

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