Gresham College Lectures The Biggest Cosmic Map - Chris Lintott
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Mar 18, 2025 Chris Lintott, Professor of Astrophysics at Oxford and Gresham Professor of Astronomy, dives into the incredible achievements of the Gaia mission. He shares insights into how the spacecraft is meticulously mapping two billion stars, revealing dynamic changes in our Milky Way. The podcast also highlights the evolution of cosmic mapping from ancient techniques to this modern marvel, emphasizing how citizen science plays a vital role in advancing astronomical research and understanding the universe.
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Nebra Sky Disc
- The Nebra Sky Disc, dating back to the Bronze Age, depicts the sun, moon, stars, and a solar boat.
- It also accurately represents the range of sunrise and sunset positions, demonstrating its use as a sky-tracking tool.
Constellation Felis
- Lalande, a French astronomer, proposed the constellation Felis (the cat).
- This addition to the sky highlights the arbitrary nature of constellations.
Eye and Ear Method
- Astronomers at the Radcliffe Observatory used the eye and ear method to map stars.
- This involved counting seconds while running between telescopes, a challenging yet crucial technique for precise measurements.