What was the central scientific conflict known as the Great Debate centered around in the early 1900s?
Answer
The nature and location of spiral nebulae
The Great Debate focused on whether spiral nebulae were small gas clouds within the Milky Way or entirely separate 'island universes' located far outside our galaxy.
Related Questions
What was the central scientific conflict known as the Great Debate centered around in the early 1900s?Which astronomer argued that spiral nebulae were entire 'island universes' separate from the Milky Way?What critical piece of technology was essential for Edwin Hubble to successfully measure the distance to Andromeda?The breakthrough in calculating the distance to Andromeda relied upon identifying what specific type of star?What specific physical relationship made the distance calculation using Cepheid variables possible?What was Hubble's initial calculated distance estimate for the Andromeda Nebula (M31)?What was the immediate implication of Hubble proving Andromeda was a separate galaxy?Hubble's discovery that the universe contained many galaxies set the stage for which subsequent major revelation?What relationship is demonstrated by Hubble's Law?What field of astronomy was provided foundational expertise by Hubble's proof that other galaxies existed?