Tag: Astronomy History
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How to Discover a Planet: From 51 Pegasi b to Exoplanets
Introduction: The moment that changed our view of the cosmos On October 6, 1995, at a scientific meeting in Florence, Italy, two Swiss astronomers announced a finding that would forever alter our understanding of the universe: a planet orbiting a star other than the Sun. Michel Mayor and his Ph.D. student Didier Queloz, working at…
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How to Discover a Planet Beyond Our Solar System: From 51 Pegasi b to Modern Exoplanet Hunting
Introduction: The Groundbreaking Start of Exoplanet Discovery On October 6, 1995, a watershed moment in astronomy occurred at a scientific meeting in Florence, Italy. Michel Mayor and his Ph.D. student Didier Queloz announced the first planet orbiting a sun-like star outside our solar system: 51 Pegasi b. This discovery proved that planetary systems beyond our…
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Edwin Hubble and the Cepheid Breakthrough: Unveiling the Vastness of the Cosmos
Introduction: A Single Star’s Light Changes Our Worldview On the night of October 5–6, 1923, a star’s flicker would rewrite humanity’s sense of the cosmos. While peering through the 100-inch Hooker telescope at Mount Wilson Observatory near Pasadena, California, Edwin Hubble observed a faint smudge of light that would become a cornerstone of modern astronomy.…
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The epic hunt for an Earth twin: how exoplanet explorers chase a planetary doppelgänger
Introduction: a quest sparked by a tiny wobble The search for a planet that mirrors Earth in size, warmth, and potential for life has been a long, winding journey. It began with a radical breakthrough in 1995 when Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz announced the discovery of a planet orbiting a Sun-like star outside our…
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Grote Reber: A Legacy in Radio Astronomy
Introduction to Grote Reber Grote Reber, a pioneering figure in radio astronomy, passed away in Tasmania in 2002, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire scientists and astronomy enthusiasts worldwide. His contributions to the field were monumental, particularly in the early development of radio telescopes. Upon his death, a unique decision was made regarding…