Short Wave The Stars That Settled The Great Debate
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Sep 1, 2022 In a thrilling journey through the 1920 Great Debate, astronomers battled over whether the Milky Way was the entire universe. Discover how variable stars became the key to challenging a self-centered view of our cosmos. Hear about Henrietta Swan-Leavitt's groundbreaking research that fundamentally changed our understanding of distance in astronomy. Edwin Hubble's transformative discoveries are explored, revealing the existence of multiple galaxies and redefining humanity's place in the universe. It's a captivating tale of discovery and cosmic evolution!
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Goodrick's Demise
- John Goodrick observed a variable star in his garden for months.
- He caught pneumonia and died, a fate Vicky Scowcroft jokingly attributes to astronomy.
Variable Star Pulsation
- Variable stars' blinking is due to their changing size and temperature.
- As they fluctuate, they pulsate, becoming bigger and hotter, then smaller and colder.
Harvard Computers and Variable Stars
- Henrietta Swan-Levitt, one of the Harvard Computers, studied variable stars using glass plates and a blink comparator.
- This painstaking process involved comparing photographs to identify changes in star brightness.