Putting a new spin on galaxies: Horace W. Babcock, the Andromeda Nebula, and the dark matter revolution
Vanderburgh, William L.
Vanderburgh, William L.
Citations
Altmetric:
Authors
Other Names
Location
Time Period
Advisors
Original Date
Digitization Date
Issue Date
2014-05
Type
Article
Genre
Keywords
EXTRAGALACTIC ASTRONOMY 1885-1965,SPIRAL NEBULAE,GENERAL-RELATIVITY,RADIAL-VELOCITY,ROTATION,PART,WARRANT,SYSTEM,MASS
Subjects (LCSH)
Citation
Vanderburgh, William L. 2014. Putting a new spin on galaxies: Horace W. Babcock, the Andromeda Nebula, and the dark matter revolution. Journal for the History of Astronomy, vol. 45:pg 141-159:pt. 2
Abstract
When a scientist is the first to perform a difficult type of observation and correctly interprets the result as a significant challenge to then-widely accepted core theories, and the result is later recognized as seminal work in a field of major importance, it is a surprise to find that that work was essentially ignored by the scientific community
for thirty years. Such was the fate of the doctoral research on the rotations of the Andromeda Nebula (M31) conducted by Horace Welcome Babcock (1912–2003), who went on to become a very prominent astronomer — in an entirely different sub-field, never working on the subject of his dissertation again. This paper seeks to explain the ‘non-reception’ of Babcock’s work on galactic dynamics and the reasons
he did no further work in that sub-field. In particular this paper shows that, contrary to the claims of some commentators, the non-reception of Babcock’s work should not be understood as an example of the unjust treatment of a young scientist by the conservative establishment.
Table of Contents
Description
Click on the DOI link to access the article (may not be free).
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Journal
Book Title
Series
Journal for the History of Astronomy;v.45:pt.2
Digital Collection
Finding Aid URL
Use and Reproduction
Archival Collection
PubMed ID
DOI
ISSN
0021-8286