A Century of Discovery: When the Smithsonian Hosted a Historic Debate That Expanded Our Understanding of the Universe
Photo: Marija Zaric / Unsplash
On April 26, 1918, the Smithsonian Museums in Washington, D.C. hosted the first of its Great Debate series, bringing together leading astronomers to discuss the nature of spiral galaxies and nebulae. This landmark scientific discussion represented the kind of open intellectual inquiry that has advanced human knowledge and wonder about our place in the cosmos.
On April 26, 1918, the Smithsonian Museums in Washington, D.C. hosted the first of its Great Debate series, bringing together leading astronomers to discuss the nature of spiral galaxies and nebulae. This landmark scientific discussion represented the kind of open intellectual inquiry that has advanced human knowledge and wonder about our place in the cosmos.