As the Apollo missions came to a close, some dreamed of an even bigger mission to reach the stars.
Win Some, Lose Some
When a telescope collapsed in 1988, it led to the creation of one of the most powerful radio telescopes ever built.
Even The Stars Move
Throughout most of history the stars were thought to be fixed in place. We now know they move relative to each other.
Astronomy And The Cold War
In 1967 two U.S. satellites detected a burst of gamma rays that didn’t match the signature of any known nuclear detonation.
How Galileo’s Moons Changed The World
Galileo’s discovery of the moons of Jupiter gave us a “heavenly clock” we could use to map the Earth.
Ignorant Savages
Outraged at the title of this post? You should be.
Astronomy On The Side
Often astronomy is a hobby, and sometimes these “amateurs” make significant advances in the field. Take, for example, the story of Andrew Common.
Climbing the Ladder
At the beginning of the 20th century, we were just beginning to map out our galaxy. By the end of the 20th century we had discovered a universe billions of light years across.
The Shoulders of Giants
Scientists don’t live in a vacuum. They build upon the ideas of their predecessors and peers. Take, for example, the curious case of Roger Bacon.