Serendipity in Astronomy

Authors: A.C. Fabian (University of Cambridge, UK)

(Submitted on 19 Aug 2009)

Abstract: Astronomy is an observationally-led subject where chance discoveries play an important role. A whole range of such discoveries is continually made, from the trivial to the highly significant.

What is generally needed is for luck to strike someone who is prepared, in the sense that they appreciate that something novel has been seen. "Chance favours the prepared mind" in the words of Pasteur, 1854.

Comments: 12 pages with 10 figures. To be published in Serendipity (eds Mark de Rond and Iain Morley), CUP

Subjects: Popular Physics (physics.pop-ph); Cosmology and Extragalactic Astrophysics (astro-ph.CO); Galaxy Astrophysics (astro-ph.GA)

Cite as: arXiv:0908.2784v1 [physics.pop-ph]

Submission history

From: A.C. Fabian [view email]

[v1] Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:37:44 GMT (3782kb)

http://arxiv.org/abs/0908.2784