Qualifications
Sorry, pal, you're not qualified to be an astrophysicist just because you own your own home telescope and have a wild theory that the Sun is going to explode in the next forty-eight hours. This field is filled with serious professionals who have worked long and hard to get where they are. If you want to join their ranks, even at entry level, you'll need quite a bit of schooling and experience.
First, you'll need a graduate degree in an astrophysics-related field that proves your special expertise. For academic-type jobs, this requirement will certainly include a Ph.D (source). While earning that degree and beyond, you'll also want plenty of hands-on research experience.
And let's not forget all the pure school subjects you'll need to be a master at just to get that far. You'll need to be an ace with your math skills, understanding of physics, and knowledge of computing, in addition to grant writing abilities and social skills (again, for that deGrasse Tyson route).
Yes, it's a lot. But there's a reason astrophysicists are considered some of the smartest people in the world. If everybody could do it, they'd call it being a mall kiosk worker.