History articles
How did we determine the size of the Earth?
The realization that our world was a massive sphere floating in space did not begin with space telescopes or GPS satelli...
What was Galileo's vision?
Galileo Galilei fundamentally altered humanity’s perception of its place in the cosmos, not just through what he saw, bu...
Why are the early telescopes not ideal?
The history of astronomy is often told as a story of ever-increasing clarity, a steady march toward perfect vision. Yet,...
What was one disadvantage of the early refracting telescope?
The earliest instruments designed to bring the distant heavens closer fundamentally changed humanity’s perception of the...
Who is the greatest astronomer of all time?
The search for the single *greatest* astronomer of all time is inherently an exercise in subjectivity, forcing us to wei...
How did Edwin Hubble help Albert Einstein?
The relationship between Edwin Hubble, the pioneering American astronomer, and Albert Einstein, the architect of relativ...
Is Galileo still active?
The current operational status of "Galileo" is a question loaded with potential confusion, as the name has been applied ...
What benefits did the Space Race bring?
The intense competition between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War era yielded far more than a r...
What is considered the birthplace of astronomy?
The concept of a single "birthplace" for astronomy is as vast and complex as the subject itself, largely because the ans...
Who first discovered the nebulae?
The initial observation of the faint, hazy patches in the night sky that we now call nebulae is not attributable to a si...
Did Giovanni Schiaparelli observe canals on Mars?
The night sky in **1877** presented a rare treat for astronomers: a close approach of Mars, an event known as a *great o...