DOCSLIB.ORG

Bigger Eyes in a Wider Universe

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Bigger Eyes in a Wider Universe BIGGER EYES IN A WIDER UNIVERSE: THE AMERICAN UNDERSTANDING OF EARTH IN OUTER SPACE, 1893-1941 A Dissertation by JODICUS WAYNE PROSSER Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY May 2009 Major Subject: Geography BIGGER EYES IN A WIDER UNIVERSE: THE AMERICAN UNDERSTANDING OF EARTH IN OUTER SPACE, 1893-1941 A Dissertation by JODICUS WAYNE PROSSER Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Approved by: Chair of Committee, Peter J. Hugill Committee Members, Jonathan M. Smith Christian Brannstrom Jonathan Coopersmith Head of Department, Douglas J. Sherman May 2009 Major Subject: Geography iii ABSTRACT Bigger Eyes in a Wider Universe: The American Understanding of Earth in Outer Space, 1893-1941. (May 2009) Jodicus Wayne Prosser, B.S., Austin Peay State University; M.P.A., Murray State University Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Peter J. Hugill Between 1893 and 1941, the understanding of the Milky Way galaxy within the American culture changed from a sphere to a spiral and Earth’s location within it changed from the center to the periphery. These changes were based primarily upon scientific theories developed at Mount Wilson Observatory near Pasadena, California. This dissertation is an “astrosophy” that traces the history of changing depictions of the Milky Way in selected published sources and identifies key individuals, theories and technologies involved. It also demonstrates why the accepted depictions of the universe envisioned at Mount Wilson were cultural-scientific products created, in part, as the result of place. Southern California became the hearth of a culture that justified its superiority based upon its unique climate. Clear skies, remarkable visibility, and a perceived existence of intense natural light became the basis for the promotion of Mount Wilson as the premier location for astronomical observations. Conservation, en plein air paintings, and the concept of paysage moralisé are Southern Californian cultural products of the iv early 1900s that promoted an idealized society capable of exceptional intellectual endeavors and scientific accomplishments. The efforts of astronomers Hale, Shapley, Adams, Hubble and Ritchey resulted in the changing American understanding of the universe. This dissertation reveals how the diverse social interactions of these astronomers intersected Arroyo Seco meetings, women’s organizations, the Valley Hunt Club elites, and philanthropic groups that comprised the schizophrenic culture of Pasadena. Their astronomical theories are compared to other aspects of the Southern Californian culture revealed in the writings of Raymond Chandler, Nathanael West and John Fante. The desire of astronomers to gain prestige from their discoveries is compared to competition in the creative processes of Hollywood. The theories created by astronomers and the films of the motion picture industry relied upon establishing an accepted second space within the minds of their audiences. By the end of the study period, the universe accepted by most Americans was a “California Universe”. It was not a discovery of pure science, but rather a cultural- scientific product of the Mount Wilson astronomers, the Pasadena community and the landscape and culture of Southern California. v DEDICATION This dissertation is dedicated to my wife, Ruth. Her love has changed the meaning of my universe and her companionship has made it endlessly more fascinating. vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The completion of this dissertation would not have been possible without the help of many people. Most are anonymous librarians and research staff who have gathered and sent information to me from various libraries and collections throughout the United States. These dedicated individuals also maintain and improve the on-line research tools and data bases upon which virtually every modern researcher has come to depend. Such tools, along with technological advances such as word processing, on-line dictionaries, and spell-checkers have made this academic endeavor achievable for a mind such as mine. I am thankful for these conveniences, the people who have made them a reality, and those that have taken the time to teach me their most efficient and effective applications. Fortunately, many who have assisted me are not among the anonymous and have left an indelible mark upon my memory. I would like to acknowledge just a few of these very special people, starting with the members of my dissertation committee. My committee chair, Dr. Hugill, introduced me to the vast array of possibilities within the field of geography. He has guided my interests but has never limited them. Dr. Jonathan Smith exposed me to the concept of geosophy. He could not have known at the time, what I would choose to do with this knowledge. But, without such a framework the idea for this dissertation would have never been hatched. Dr. Jonathan Coopersmith instilled within me a deep conviction that the relationships between history, technology, science, and geography merited additional research and study. Dr. Christian Brannstrom has been my academic voice of reason. He pushed when I needed a start, poked when I needed to vii adjust course, and sometimes made me aware I was going the wrong direction just when I was picking up speed. It is my sincerest wish that each of my committee members identifies the evidence of their handiwork in the pages of this dissertation and appreciates my level of indebtedness to their teachings. Next, I would like to thank Don Nicholson and the volunteers of the Mount Wilson Society. Don is the son of a Mount Wilson Astronomer who lived and worked in Pasadena during the period of this study. Not only did Mr. Nicholson provide access to the sixty-inch and one-hundred-inch telescopes on Mount Wilson. His memories of the era in Southern California, the personalities of the astronomers, and the technicalities of their work greatly enriched this effort. A portion of the research conducted for this dissertation was funded by Embry- Riddle Aeronautical University Extended Campus Research Reward Program. I owe a debt of gratitude to Dr. Alan Bender of Embry Riddle who encouraged me to apply for this grant to cover the cost of research at the Library of Congress and Huntington Library in Pasadena. The reference librarians in the Geography and Maps Department of the Library of Congress were extraordinarily helpful. Finally, I would like to thank my wife, Ruth Ann Minkus Prosser. Her support during this project has been more than any husband deserves. Now it is her turn. viii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT............................................................................................................... iii DEDICATION........................................................................................................... v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ........................................................................................ vi TABLE OF CONTENTS........................................................................................... viii LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................... x LIST OF TABLES..................................................................................................... xii CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................... 1 Background .............................................................................................. 2 Research Design and Methods................................................................. 11 II THE SCIENCE OF CHANGING THE UNIVERSE .................................... 20 Using Lenses and Trigonometry to Chart Earth’s Place in the Heavens ......................................................................................... 24 Using the Rules of Science to Understand the Nature of Celestial Phenomenon.............................................................................. 31 Using Mirrors, Mountains, and Relativity to Expose Outer Space.......... 35 Using Debate to Measure the Galaxy ...................................................... 41 Using Non-Scientific Techniques to Comprehend the Cosmos .............. 45 Using Light to Explain and Expand the Known Universe....................... 51 Changes in Cartographic Representations of the Milky Way.................. 57 Summary.................................................................................................. 61 III FINDING ONE’S PLACE IN THE WORLD (1893-1917) ....................... 65 Muir’s California of Landscape and Light............................................... 69 The Land of Sunshine and the Arroyo Culture........................................ 73 Hale and the Pasadena Community ......................................................... 77 Southern California as Paysage Moralisé and the Home of the En Plein Air Artists.................................................................................. 80 Building a Scientific Community within Nature’s Splendor................... 92 Summary.................................................................................................. 101 ix CHAPTER Page IV UNDERSTANDING ONE’S PLACE IN THE UNIVERSE (1917-1941)... 104 Raymond Chandler and the Californian Image of Independence............ 108 Harlow Shapley.......................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • 2016-2017 Year Book Www
    1 2016-2017 YEAR BOOK WWW. C A R N E G I E S C I E N C E . E D U Department of Embryology 3520 San Martin Dr. / Baltimore, MD 21218 410.246.3001 Geophysical Laboratory 5251 Broad Branch Rd., N.W. / Washington, DC 20015-1305 202.478.8900 Department of Global Ecology 260 Panama St. / Stanford, CA 94305-4101 650.462.1047 The Carnegie Observatories 813 Santa Barbara St. / Pasadena, CA 91101-1292 626.577.1122 Las Campanas Observatory Casilla 601 / La Serena, Chile Department of Plant Biology 260 Panama St. / Stanford, CA 94305-4101 650.325.1521 Department of Terrestrial Magnetism 5241 Broad Branch Rd., N.W. / Washington, DC 20015-1305 202.478.8820 Office of Administration 1530 P St., N.W. / Washington, DC 20005-1910 202.387.6400 2 0 1 6 - 2 0 1 7 Y E A R B O O K The President’s Report July 1, 2016 - June 30, 2017 C A R N E G I E I N S T I T U T I O N F O R S C I E N C E Former Presidents Daniel C. Gilman, 1902–1904 Robert S. Woodward, 1904–1920 John C. Merriam, 1921–1938 Vannevar Bush, 1939–1955 Caryl P. Haskins, 1956–1971 Philip H. Abelson, 1971–1978 James D. Ebert, 1978–1987 Edward E. David, Jr. (Acting President, 1987–1988) Maxine F. Singer, 1988–2002 Michael E. Gellert (Acting President, Jan.–April 2003) Richard A. Meserve, 2003–2014 Former Trustees Philip H. Abelson, 1978–2004 Patrick E.
    [Show full text]
  • Ira Sprague Bowen Papers, 1940-1973
    http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/tf2p300278 No online items Inventory of the Ira Sprague Bowen Papers, 1940-1973 Processed by Ronald S. Brashear; machine-readable finding aid created by Gabriela A. Montoya Manuscripts Department The Huntington Library 1151 Oxford Road San Marino, California 91108 Phone: (626) 405-2203 Fax: (626) 449-5720 Email: [email protected] URL: http://www.huntington.org/huntingtonlibrary.aspx?id=554 © 1998 The Huntington Library. All rights reserved. Observatories of the Carnegie Institution of Washington Collection Inventory of the Ira Sprague 1 Bowen Papers, 1940-1973 Observatories of the Carnegie Institution of Washington Collection Inventory of the Ira Sprague Bowen Paper, 1940-1973 The Huntington Library San Marino, California Contact Information Manuscripts Department The Huntington Library 1151 Oxford Road San Marino, California 91108 Phone: (626) 405-2203 Fax: (626) 449-5720 Email: [email protected] URL: http://www.huntington.org/huntingtonlibrary.aspx?id=554 Processed by: Ronald S. Brashear Encoded by: Gabriela A. Montoya © 1998 The Huntington Library. All rights reserved. Descriptive Summary Title: Ira Sprague Bowen Papers, Date (inclusive): 1940-1973 Creator: Bowen, Ira Sprague Extent: Approximately 29,000 pieces in 88 boxes Repository: The Huntington Library San Marino, California 91108 Language: English. Provenance Placed on permanent deposit in the Huntington Library by the Observatories of the Carnegie Institution of Washington Collection. This was done in 1989 as part of a letter of agreement (dated November 5, 1987) between the Huntington and the Carnegie Observatories. The papers have yet to be officially accessioned. Cataloging of the papers was completed in 1989 prior to their transfer to the Huntington.
    [Show full text]
  • Volume LX I, I 9
    CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE Of TECHNOLOGY E N GI N E E Volume LX I, N II1llber 3, I 9 9 8 IN THIS ISSUE • Prosecuting Science Simulating Molecules Observing Anniversaries London Bridge? The Manhattan skyline? No, it's an oil refinery. figuring out how to squeeze more gasoline rrom a barrel or crude is just one project a group or theoretical chemists at Caltech have taken on in a series or academic­ industrial collaborations. for more on this partner­ sh ip, see the story on page 20. Photo courtesy or Chevron Corporation. \ California Inst i tute of Technology 2 Random Wa l k 10 Scie ntific Fraud and Misconduct in American Po litica l Cu lture : Reflections on the Baltimore Case - by Dan ie l J. Kevles Excessive zeal on the part of legislators and the media hyped public suspicion of scientists' behavior. 20 " H ave Method , Wi ll T rave l" - by Douglas L. Smi t h Computational chemistry ventures into the Real World as Cal tech theorists tackle industrial problems. 30 Tw o A s tronomical Anniv ers aries : Palomar at 50 Still going strong , the hale and hearty Hale Telescope hits the half century mark. 36 ... and OVRO at 40 Radio astronomers parry, too. On t he Cover: The six IO.4·meter antennas (one 42 Boo ks - The Earth in Tf{rmoil by Kerr y Si eh a n d S i mon LeVay is hidden behind the others here) of the Owe ns 43 Faculty Fil e Valley Radio Observat ory millimeter· wave array can receive signals from up t o Engineering & Science (ISSN 0013-7812) is published Warren G.
    [Show full text]
  • Scientific Fraud ) !J." } .::; :"I~ I ::.T:U!O L.~ 4-F, J T.F;;­
    California Institute of Technology Engineering & Science Winter 1991 7 _ 4 In this i.sue I;', ~l. 1,150/" q-, >'h 11 1,3t J,~, ~ ~ 0 '., ';.. '".l.l b: -)1 f' I.f): ., 0.',)9 First Lights > 1-" I , - , ,,LJ~'7 Scientific Fraud ) !J." } .::; :"I~ I ::.t:u!o l.~ 4-f, j t.f;;­ . - '-I~ /2.- .o1l-/r, I) .... ,; "'. t'+t -. 'b~, 1.1 If • ~ ~ ;,, ~I loJ I( 1",_ Technology Lf~IOr 3f7U " i~ "" If l!f Transfer /1 11 " • , ;,).lJ h~ ,, ~ ~ "!> ~, "_ /.>, Is ~I ).. a.- I ~ 4; 7 Semiconductor I I >'f , ,, 1> "II , .... ., Quality Control 'Is i" ,, 0,./, 'i 'l{'1- , ~ ' '''1 i' r 'I $7(, '>'/11 "-1, > • ~'i 1,0:, ~ ~ .., ~I -: /' q, ' " c. t. , u- f'! ~~~ ":lk.i e ... ,- , 11J 3 0 'f l.- , . fo'l' '" ~. "f I ~. (,. I ~ - '>- , ? tl6 . o I,! .,.!- .. - 31.r~{, ) .' J S"7 J. ) , F., a The 10·meter Keck Telescope saw first light in November 1990. California Institute of Technology Winter 1991 Volume LlV, Number 2 2 First Lights The lO-rneter Keck Telescope, with one quarter of its mirror segments installed, produces its first image; its predecessors had different definitions of "first light," as well as different problems. 10 Scientific Fraud - by David Goodstein Caltech's vice provost offers an opinion of what it is and what it isn't, and defends a couple of famous physicists against false charges. 20 Deposit Insurance The layers that make up a computer chip are deposited inside a sealed chamber. A new way to see what's going on within the chamber can improve chip quality.
    [Show full text]
  • Dancing to the Tempo of LEP
    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HIGH-ENERGY PHYSICS CERN COURIER VOLUME 40 NUMBER 10 DECEMBER 2000 Dancing to the tempo of LEP SPIN SUPERSYMMETRY INTERNET Polarized protons accelerated Striking suggestions for How the Web was Born, a new in new RHIC ring p8 additional physics symmetry pl7 book p43 E RI Hew Gêner CES Creative Electronic Systems 70 route du Hunt-dun*! CH-1213 Petit-Uncy, Switzerland Internet: nttp://www.ces.cft I The Ultimate VME Machine CES Switzeriand The RI03 features a twin bus architecture, a Tel: ^41.22.879.51.00 ifque fnter-processor communication mechanism Fax: +4U2.792.57.4d Email; [email protected] for ultra-high-speed data acquisitions g and user-level load balance control CES.O Germany with dedicated hardware. Tel: +49.60.51.96.97.41 Fax; +49.60,51.96.97.33 Sheer Speed: Êttuiil: [email protected] # • VME - block transfers in 2eSST at CES MSâ 300 MBytes/s, single cycles at 20 MBytes/s Tel:+ 1.518.843.1445 Fax;+1.518.643.1447 * Memory - 400 MBytes/s average, Email: [email protected] 800 MBytes/s peak • Multi-Access - VME + PCM + PCI 2 + CPU without global degradation CPU Power: PowerPC 750 or 7400 at maximum available speed I Flexible: Two Independent 64-bit PCI with simultaneous access to the memory I Scalable: Up to four additional PMC's on a PMC carrier system MFCC 844x PMC PROCESSORS • 130 KGates user-FPGA • Continuous acquisition at 50 MBytes/s In 32 or 64~bit mode • Full 750 / 7400 computing core • Full network services on PCI * Complete multi-processing software with connection oriented high-speed data transfers SOFTWARE SUPPORT VxWorics®, Lynxob®, muecat® and LINUX® development software including support for hard real-time target machines.
    [Show full text]
  • Observational Cosmology - 30H Course 218.163.109.230 Et Al
    Observational cosmology - 30h course 218.163.109.230 et al. (2004–2014) PDF generated using the open source mwlib toolkit. See http://code.pediapress.com/ for more information. PDF generated at: Thu, 31 Oct 2013 03:42:03 UTC Contents Articles Observational cosmology 1 Observations: expansion, nucleosynthesis, CMB 5 Redshift 5 Hubble's law 19 Metric expansion of space 29 Big Bang nucleosynthesis 41 Cosmic microwave background 47 Hot big bang model 58 Friedmann equations 58 Friedmann–Lemaître–Robertson–Walker metric 62 Distance measures (cosmology) 68 Observations: up to 10 Gpc/h 71 Observable universe 71 Structure formation 82 Galaxy formation and evolution 88 Quasar 93 Active galactic nucleus 99 Galaxy filament 106 Phenomenological model: LambdaCDM + MOND 111 Lambda-CDM model 111 Inflation (cosmology) 116 Modified Newtonian dynamics 129 Towards a physical model 137 Shape of the universe 137 Inhomogeneous cosmology 143 Back-reaction 144 References Article Sources and Contributors 145 Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors 148 Article Licenses License 150 Observational cosmology 1 Observational cosmology Observational cosmology is the study of the structure, the evolution and the origin of the universe through observation, using instruments such as telescopes and cosmic ray detectors. Early observations The science of physical cosmology as it is practiced today had its subject material defined in the years following the Shapley-Curtis debate when it was determined that the universe had a larger scale than the Milky Way galaxy. This was precipitated by observations that established the size and the dynamics of the cosmos that could be explained by Einstein's General Theory of Relativity.
    [Show full text]
  • E F L E C T I O N S a Man Not Known to Sleep E
    s u m m e r . q u a r t e r / j u n e . 2 0 1 4 r e f l e c t i o n s a man not known to sleep E. E. Barnard on Mount Wilson According to Allan Sandage, Edward Emerson Barnard was “the last of the great visual observers and the first of the long line of photo- graphic atlas makers with wide-angle telescopes.” William Sheehan, Barnard’s biographer, wrote that he deserves special recognition as “one of the most versatile astronomers of the 19th century, perhaps the last to master the entire field of observational astronomy, and a marvelous visual and photographic observer as well.” Yet Barnard is little known today outside of astronomical circles. Barnard worked on Mount Wilson for about 8 months in 1905. He at mount wilson observatory in 1905 From left: H. L. Miller, Charles G. Abbot, George Ellery Hale, Leonard Ingersoll, Ferdinand Ellerman, was on leave from Yerkes Observatory, along with a Yerkes telescope. Walter S. Adams, Edward Emerson Barnard, Charles Backus. Only Hale, This brief period yielded 40 of the 50 fields of Barnard’s magnificent Adams, Ellerman, and Backus were permanent staff members. star atlas — An Atlas of Selected Regions of the Milky Way — published in 1927. The Milky Way atlas represents the first use of a photographic observations of the night sky and became fascinated with comets, telescope, an unusual instrument sponsored by (and named after) which he began hunting on a methodical basis. Finding that a patron Catherine Wolfe Bruce.
    [Show full text]
  • Speed of Light and Rates of Clocks in the Space Generation Model of Gravitation, Part 1
    GravitationLab.com Speed of Light and Rates of Clocks in the Space Generation Model of Gravitation, Part 1 1 R. BENISH( ) (1) Eugene, Oregon, USA, [email protected] Abstract. — General Relativity’s Schwarzschild solution describes a spherically symmetric gravi- tational field as an utterly static thing. The Space Generation Model (SGM) describes it as an absolutely moving thing. The SGM nevertheless agrees equally well with observations made in the fields of the Earth and Sun, because it predicts almost ex- actly the same spacetime curvature. This success of the SGM motivates deepening the context—especially with regard to the fundamental concepts of motion. The roots of Einstein’s relativity theories thus receive critical examination. A particularly illumi- nating and widely applicable example is that of uniform rotation, which was used to build General Relativity (GR). Comparing Einstein’s logic to that of the SGM, the most significant difference concerns the interpretation of the readings of accelerom- eters and the rates of clocks. Where Einstein infers relativity of motion and space- time symmetry, it is argued to be more logical to infer absoluteness of motion and spacetime asymmetry. This approach leads to reassessments of the essential nature of matter, time, and the dimensionality of space, which lead in turn to some novel cos- mological consequences. Special emphasis is given to the model’s deviations from standard predictions inside matter, which have never been tested, but could be tested by conducting a simple experiment. PACS 04.80.Cc – Experimental tests of gravitational theories. 1. – Introduction; Intended Audience Beware ye, all those bold of spirit who want to suggest new ideas.
    [Show full text]
  • Index to JRASC Volumes 61-90 (PDF)
    THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA GENERAL INDEX to the JOURNAL 1967–1996 Volumes 61 to 90 inclusive (including the NATIONAL NEWSLETTER, NATIONAL NEWSLETTER/BULLETIN, and BULLETIN) Compiled by Beverly Miskolczi and David Turner* * Editor of the Journal 1994–2000 Layout and Production by David Lane Published by and Copyright 2002 by The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada 136 Dupont Street Toronto, Ontario, M5R 1V2 Canada www.rasc.ca — [email protected] Table of Contents Preface ....................................................................................2 Volume Number Reference ...................................................3 Subject Index Reference ........................................................4 Subject Index ..........................................................................7 Author Index ..................................................................... 121 Abstracts of Papers Presented at Annual Meetings of the National Committee for Canada of the I.A.U. (1967–1970) and Canadian Astronomical Society (1971–1996) .......................................................................168 Abstracts of Papers Presented at the Annual General Assembly of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (1969–1996) ...........................................................207 JRASC Index (1967-1996) Page 1 PREFACE The last cumulative Index to the Journal, published in 1971, was compiled by Ruth J. Northcott and assembled for publication by Helen Sawyer Hogg. It included all articles published in the Journal during the interval 1932–1966, Volumes 26–60. In the intervening years the Journal has undergone a variety of changes. In 1970 the National Newsletter was published along with the Journal, being bound with the regular pages of the Journal. In 1978 the National Newsletter was physically separated but still included with the Journal, and in 1989 it became simply the Newsletter/Bulletin and in 1991 the Bulletin. That continued until the eventual merger of the two publications into the new Journal in 1997.
    [Show full text]
  • “ > > > > > > STEPHEN C. MEYER ”
    HARPER ONE | March 30, 2021 release “This book makes it clear that far from being an un- scientific claim, intelligent design is valid science.” —Dr. Brian D. Josephson, Emeritus Professor of Physics, University of Cambridge, Fellow of the Royal Society, Nobel Laureate in Physics Key Points INSPIRING HOPE: The scientific rediscovery of God provides hope of purpose and meaning to human existence, > contrary to the claims of atheists who assert that human life lacks any ultimate significance. > THEISTIC IMPLICATIONS: Recent discoveries in cosmology showing the universe had a beginning have decidedly theistic implications; namely, they point to a transcendent creator as the cause of the origin of the universe. A UNIVERSE FROM SOMETHING: Physicists such as Stephen Hawking and Lawrence Krauss, who claim to have > explained the origin of the universe from nothing but the laws of physics, inadvertently advance ideas that actually support the God hypothesis. > TACKLING THE MULTIVERSE: The book shows why positing one God is a better explanation than the multiverse hypothesis for the fine-tuning of the physical parameters that have made life possible. > MASTER PROGRAMMER: The book shows that recent discoveries about DNA point to a master programmer or designer for life. > JUDEO-CHRISTIAN TRADITION: Judeo-Christian ideas provided the inspiration for science during the period of the scientific revolution. Devoutly religious scientists such as Johannes Kepler, Robert Boyle, and Sir Isaac Newton show that science and Christianity have not always been at war, contrary to the claims of atheists such as Richard Dawkins, Lawrence Krauss, Neil Tyson, Bill Nye, and others. When you don’t understand the details of living systems, ignorance permits discounting a Creator.
    [Show full text]
  • Not Yet Imagined: a Study of Hubble Space Telescope Operations
    NOT YET IMAGINED A STUDY OF HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OPERATIONS CHRISTOPHER GAINOR NOT YET IMAGINED NOT YET IMAGINED A STUDY OF HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OPERATIONS CHRISTOPHER GAINOR National Aeronautics and Space Administration Office of Communications NASA History Division Washington, DC 20546 NASA SP-2020-4237 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Gainor, Christopher, author. | United States. NASA History Program Office, publisher. Title: Not Yet Imagined : A study of Hubble Space Telescope Operations / Christopher Gainor. Description: Washington, DC: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Office of Communications, NASA History Division, [2020] | Series: NASA history series ; sp-2020-4237 | Includes bibliographical references and index. | Summary: “Dr. Christopher Gainor’s Not Yet Imagined documents the history of NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope (HST) from launch in 1990 through 2020. This is considered a follow-on book to Robert W. Smith’s The Space Telescope: A Study of NASA, Science, Technology, and Politics, which recorded the development history of HST. Dr. Gainor’s book will be suitable for a general audience, while also being scholarly. Highly visible interactions among the general public, astronomers, engineers, govern- ment officials, and members of Congress about HST’s servicing missions by Space Shuttle crews is a central theme of this history book. Beyond the glare of public attention, the evolution of HST becoming a model of supranational cooperation amongst scientists is a second central theme. Third, the decision-making behind the changes in Hubble’s instrument packages on servicing missions is chronicled, along with HST’s contributions to our knowledge about our solar system, our galaxy, and our universe.
    [Show full text]
  • Events in Science, Mathematics, and Technology | Version 3.0
    EVENTS IN SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS, AND TECHNOLOGY | VERSION 3.0 William Nielsen Brandt | [email protected] Classical Mechanics -260 Archimedes mathematically works out the principle of the lever and discovers the principle of buoyancy 60 Hero of Alexandria writes Metrica, Mechanics, and Pneumatics 1490 Leonardo da Vinci describ es capillary action 1581 Galileo Galilei notices the timekeeping prop erty of the p endulum 1589 Galileo Galilei uses balls rolling on inclined planes to show that di erentweights fall with the same acceleration 1638 Galileo Galilei publishes Dialogues Concerning Two New Sciences 1658 Christian Huygens exp erimentally discovers that balls placed anywhere inside an inverted cycloid reach the lowest p oint of the cycloid in the same time and thereby exp erimentally shows that the cycloid is the iso chrone 1668 John Wallis suggests the law of conservation of momentum 1687 Isaac Newton publishes his Principia Mathematica 1690 James Bernoulli shows that the cycloid is the solution to the iso chrone problem 1691 Johann Bernoulli shows that a chain freely susp ended from two p oints will form a catenary 1691 James Bernoulli shows that the catenary curve has the lowest center of gravity that anychain hung from two xed p oints can have 1696 Johann Bernoulli shows that the cycloid is the solution to the brachisto chrone problem 1714 Bro ok Taylor derives the fundamental frequency of a stretched vibrating string in terms of its tension and mass p er unit length by solving an ordinary di erential equation 1733 Daniel Bernoulli
    [Show full text]