Im new to this forum but i was wondering what is the most controversial astronomical event that has happened that has REAL scientific evidence behind it?
Newbie
Im new to this forum but i was wondering what is the most controversial astronomical event that has happened that has REAL scientific evidence behind it?
Moderator
Controversial? You mean something that some astronomers interpret the data to mean one event occurred, and other astronomers read it as an entirely different event? ...
or are you wondering about something where non-astronomers have some unsupportable idea?
Forming opinions as we speak
Moderator
Just to echo antoniseb, "events" are not usually controversial in astronomy, but their interpretation may be.
And welcome to BAUT ZachTc2011
Established Member
For the purpose of this thread, is it essential to have an actual BSc, MSc or PhD in astronomy from a recognized institution to be in the category of warranting the title of being a contemporary 'astronomer'?
Or are unqualified 'amateur' astronomers included too?
Moderator
I'm just trying to figure out if he means things that belong in ATM or CT, or whether he's wondering about something like broadening of quintuply ionized Carbon in Type 1a SN is interpreted by some as thermal and others as non-thermal (magnetic) leading to slightly different conclusions about the distribution of the ejecta (n.b. I'm making something up here).Originally Posted by wd40
Forming opinions as we speak
Established Member
The broadening is obviously non-thermal. Anyone who believes it is thermal is a heretic and a witch... BURN THEM!
ummm... what are we talking about?
Probably the most recent major controversy had to do with how to properly define a 'planet'.
Moderator
I would tend to agree with that. But I also note Zack didn't say 'recently' or give any time frame. Given that, I would say the idea of a non-Earth-centered universe.
Banned
Hello, Zach.
Did you mean "controversial"? Or did you mean "sensational"?
Ideas are controversial; events are sensational.
-- Jeff, in Minneapolis
Banned
We went to the Moon., and we did not. Would be the argument I would site...
That there are idiots a plenty to argue such has always astounded me....
Then you could add all those that pro port to have been abducted by aliens.... Oh yaa... controversial
Is this what you were thinking of ? and welcome Zach.
Mostly HarmlessI suspect that the Tunguska event would rate as would the Cretaceous–Tertiary extinction event. Tunguska has been "put away" I think, but there seems to be a debate as to if an impact event was the "end all, be all" to the extinction. The LGM-1 discovery would be another surprising event, as pulsars hadn't been seen before that one. Even the name was selected as if to drum up headlines.
Of course, these are all my personal observations from the media. Carl Sagan in the early eighties offered an array of possible causes of the Tunguska event. For a short period of time the Nemesis Star was "popular" and a vehicle for discussion about astronomy; of course this was a big "what if" sort of proposal so I don't know how serious it was taken in scientific circles.
I seem to recall scientific types being seriously annoyed by the discovery of a planet (and then several planets) around "Pegasus 51". That was a terminology and decorum sort of controversy fueled by a news show. I suppose it depends on what you mean by controversy and who is answering the question.
Solfe
Order of Kilopi
Most controversial? It would be hard to beat heliocentricism.
Established Member
The change to the Gregorian calendar: "Give us back our 11 days", followed by riots!
Order of Kilopi
I'm not sure if this interpretation is correct, but I think you may mean to ask, what is the astronomical event that is the most puzzling? If that is what you mean, I think there are many. The Pioneer anomaly might be one, the flyby anomaly another, maybe the results of the WMAP survey.
As above, so below
Established Member
Epanding and accelarating Universe.
Established Member
I think the Big Bang theory had evidence to support it yet met with a great deal of inertia from the Steady State brigade for a couple of decades at least before mainstream acceptance. That was so controversial that publishers, I recall, had a default position of giving both points of view in astronomy books all through my school years during the 1960s and 70s.
Established Member
I'm with swampyankee on this one, beating heliocentrism and geocentrism will be hard to do.
The impossible often has a kind of integrity the merely improbable lacks. -Douglas Adams
Order of Kilopi
Events that are supported by evidence should no longer be controversial, at least to people of good will and mental flexibility.
Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts.
Established Member
Was heliocentrism really a controversy among astronomers or among the church?
After all, when we talk about the first astronomers with telescopes, we are talking about heliocentrists.
edit: I would like to add steady state vs. expanding universe as a long-standing controversy among astronomers.
Banned
Cougar,
When an event is supported by evidence is when it becomes
controversial. If there is no evidence to support it, there is
nothing to controvert.
-- Jeff, in Minneapolis
Order of Kilopi
To be honest, I would suggest we wait to get some clarification from ZachTc2011 on what exactly it is asking.
As above, so below
Established Member
This thread has too much potential interest to wait on that. This might be the first time I've ever seen someone use the word 'controvert'.
Established Member
I suspect that Jeff may have discovered a wording problem that itself could have inspired a controversy in this thread. As Jens suggests, we may want to wait for clarification from Zach before adding to the controversy.
BTW, welcome to the discussion group, Zach.
Last edited by Centaur; 2010-Dec-16 at 09:18 PM.
For astronomical graphics and data visit
https://www.CurtRenz.com/astronomy.html
Order of Kilopi
I would say that during Galileo's time, the Copernican heliocentric theory was about as controversial as anything can get.
Moderator
Yes, Much more controversial than whether Price et al. discovered a magnetic monopole, or whether ALH 84001 contained fossilized bacteria spores from Mars.
Forming opinions as we speak
Established Member
But heliocentrism was not controversial among astronomers. It was controversial among the uneducated, just as are evolution, the moon landing, etc.
Order of Kilopi
Assuming "event" means "something someone observed" rather than "idea", then the most controversial event was probably Galileo observing moons of Jupiter, and thus providing example of something that clearly does not revolve around Earth.
Order of Kilopi
During Copernic's time heliocentrism certainly was controversial among astronomers. Tycho Brahe was a geocentrist.
Moderator
I know you're joking, but I just want to point out that the disgruntlement was because landlords were charging one month's rent for just twenty days, not because the "time" was lost.
Except for Ketish, he was mad about everything
Established Member
I'd say The Great Debate ranks up there with the best of the controversies. It's settled now, but certainly wasn't at that time.
Order of Kilopi
Interesting. I wasn't aware of that. I'm surprised we haven't had some Shapleyists in ATM...
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