Barbara J. Becker's Astronomy Lecture (2014-AAFLWS)
Cline Observatory Presents a Special Program to Commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the First Observation of the Spectrum of a Nebula... "No such spectrum as I expected!": William Huggins and the Riddle of the Nebulae by Dr. Barbara J. Becker, University of California at Irvine About the Talk: One hundred-fifty years ago, the quest to understand the nature and structure of nebulae had reached an impasse despite the increased light grasp and optical refinement possessed by telescopes of the day. This presentation will discuss how all this changed on August 29, 1864, when English amateur astronomer and pioneer spectroscopist William Huggins (1824-1910) decided to subject the light of those luminous smudges to spectroscopic scrutiny. It was a bold stroke that propelled him to a position of prestige and authority within the wider scientific community. The results of his investigation captured his colleagues' imagination and heightened their awareness of the spectroscope's potential to generate new knowledge about old and familiar telescopic subjects. About the Speaker: Barbara Becker received her PhD in history of science from The Johns Hopkins University. Until her recent retirement, she taught history of science at the University of California, Irvine. Her research interests include the role of the amateur in the development of nineteenth century professional astronomy, the redefining of disciplinary boundaries in the face of new knowledge and new practice, and the role of controversy in shaping the substance and structure of scientific knowledge. She is the author of Unravelling Starlight: William and Margaret Huggins and the Rise of the New Astronomy (Cambridge University Press, 2011) and editor of the recently completed Selected Correspondence of William Huggins, 2 vols (Pickering and Chatto, 2014).
Lai'Anna D Martin
8/29/2014 11:30:00 PM
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