Astronomy is primarily an observational science where scientists cannot actively experiment on celestial objects. Scientists use large surveys to collect data on many objects to look for variations. Population studies examine limited groups that share properties to see how features relate. Coordinate systems like altitude-azimuth and right ascension-declination are used to precisely map the positions of stars and other objects in the sky.
2. In this lecture… The Nature of Science What is science? What is it not? How does the process of science work? What is “pseudoscience”? Astronomy as a Science Challenges of observational science Surveys and population studies Coordinate systems and mapping
3. What is Science? Take a moment to consider and write down your own definitions or ideas of what science is.
4. What is Science? Science is… The study of the workings of the physical universe A process for acquiring knowledge A collection of facts built up from observations A collection of organizing principles and laws A community based on shared knowledge An important part of our culture, studied by philosophers and sociologists A cultural symbol of credibility and authority Adapted from “The Process of Science”, released by the American Astronomical Society
5. Scientific Foundations Science is our way of better understanding the natural world. Answers questions of how the universe works Expands upon observation, leads to prediction Explains processes in terms of tested physical mechanisms
7. Key Components of Science The scientific method Observation and question-asking Search for explanations Prove or disprove possible explanations through testing and comparison with known data Scientific goals Explain, predict aspects of the natural world Must be testable, falsifiable The scientific community Multiple evaluations Critique and retesting
8. Science Does Not… Answer “why” questions that deal with purpose and meaning. Directly include any reference to, support for or against anything super-natural. Scientists sometimes make statements based on what science finds, but these statements are not science themselves. This is a limit from principle (such things are not observable) and practice (doesn’t work, not “fruitful” for science) Exist in a vacuum Affected by society, biases and assumptions of scientists. The scientific method is designed to eliminate the influence of these the best it can.
9. The Method of Science Careful observation of natural phenomena Make a hypothesis/model Test that hypothesis Primarily, we check to see if it is wrong (we try to falsify the hypothesis) If the hypothesis agrees well with experiment and observation, incorporate it into your model If not, set it aside and try to come up with something better!
10. Features of Scientific Ideas Observability Natural explanation Predictability Testability Falsifiability Repeatability Consistency
11. Observation Scientific observation involves more than just “seeing” something – it involves paying careful attention, watching and noticing as much as possible, and thinking about what is observed.
12. Testing a Hypothesis Testing a hypothesis does not always mean doing an experiment in a lab! Other possibilities: Prove something mathematically Make additional observations that match with expectations Run a computer simulation and see whether behaves as expected
13. The Process of Science Careful observation Hypothesis Model Theory Other tested hypotheses Extensive testing and validation turns a set of hypotheses into a scientific theory, which means that model has been successful in both explaining and predicting certain phenomena.
14. Model A scientific model is a collection of tested hypotheses that explain how some aspect of nature appears or operates. Note: a hypothesis can rarely be tested entirely on its own – usually depends upon other hypotheses that have already been tested. Suppose a scientist uses a particular model to come up with a new hypothesis – but that hypothesis turns out to be wrong. Does this mean the model is wrong?
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16. A model does not have to explain everything in order to be valid.
17. May have a limited, but important, range in which it applies
18. May contain an important concept that is useful for prediction even though the actual system is more complicated.
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20. Theory and Fact A fact is a simple, direct piece of information Usually something directly measured or observed. A theory is an organizing framework We use a theory to bring facts together, to explain them and how they relate. In science, the theory is more important, because it: Explains the facts Helps us predict new facts
21. Theory and Fact "Science is built up of facts, as a house is with stones. But a collection of facts is no more a science than a heap of stones is a house.” Henri Poincaré (1854–1912)
22. The Process of Science Our knowledge changes and grows over time. Not perfect or static All science has levels of certainty, based on strength of evidence. Hypotheses and even theories are constantly tested and new ones developed. New ideas modify the old ones, sometimes replacing them, but usually making them more accurate.
23. The Scientific Community Critique, evaluation, and exploration by multiple people is ESSENTIAL to the process of science. As consequence, new ideas (even if right) take time to be validated and accepted by the community at large. Keep in mind that not everything a scientist says is necessarily true, valid, or even scientific.
24. Pseudoscience Tries to look like science, but does not follow the rules Recall… these rules are not arbitrary, they come from experience and necessity. May make claims based on science which are beyond the natural world (without saying so) This may come out of very legitimate areas of study and might in the end even be true, but it’s not science. Usually is not reliable when trying to figure out how the natural world works.
25. Breaking Rules Common ways the rules are ignored or broken… Not making predictions, or making ones that aren’t testable or falsifiable Invoking super-natural explanations (which aren’t testable or falsifiable) Using appeals to emotion and fear instead of evidence Ignoring contradictory evidence, not working to falsify their hypotheses, only admitting favorable evidence Focusing on a few small items (good or bad) and ignoring the larger body of knowledge (oversimplifying)
26. Criteria for Scientific Ideas Can this idea be used to make predictions about what will happen under particular circumstances or at a specific time in the future? Are the predictions testable? Have the predictions been tested? What evidence would it take to prove the idea wrong? Do conclusions in this area undergo peer review in a mainstream scientific journal? from The Process of Science, AAS
27. Questions to Consider Scientific method involves each of these except A) systematic search for information B) reformulating observations to agree with theories C) forming and testing possible explanations D) observation and experimentation
28. Questions to Consider Which of these statements is correct? A) A theory is a hypothesis that has been proven to be true. B) A hypothesis which cannot be tested is a good candidate for becoming a theory. C) If a well-tested hypothesis explains the available data and has not yet been falsified, then it can be called a theory. D) Once a hypothesis has been published it becomes a theory.
29. Questions to Consider The nature of science is such that: A) all scientific models become theories B) nature always obeys scientific models C) scientific models describe relationships observed in nature D) scientific theories are statements of absolute truth
30. Questions to Consider When a scientist develops an explanation for patterns or relationships observed among a number of facts A) a new theory has been developed. B) the pattern and explanation should be included in the next edition of a relevant text book. C) the pattern and explanation should be submitted for publication, then verified by others.
31. Questions for Discussion Walter Alvarez proposed in 1980 that the extinction of the dinosaurs was due to a large meteorite hitting the earth. After extensive experimental work by many people which show this to be a likely explanation, this is A) a hypothesis B) a theory C) conjecture D) a scientific law
32. Questions for Discussion Which is most correct? A) Science is always right B) Nonscientific study has little value C) Science has all the answers D) Science seeks to understand nature
33. Questions for Discussion Which of these could be a valid scientific statement (regardless of its truth)? A) Nuclear power is good for society. B) Theory and observations indicate that our Sun formed about 5 billion years ago. C) The fact that we can explain much of how the world works proves that there is no God or other supernatural beings. D) The fact that humans are very small in a very big universe means that we are insignificant.
35. Experimental Science Our mental picture of science research is often something like this… in which a scientist is actively doing something to influence a system and study the results.
36. Observational Science However, astronomy is primarily an observational science, in which we cannot actively make changes to the objects that we study.
37. Activity: Astro-Autos Suppose you were raised by wild scientists in a remote region of Western Kansas and have never encountered a car or any type of motor vehicle before. Knowing nothing about a car, what it is, what it is used for, and how it works, you are suddenly given one to study and figure out. How might you start trying to learn about the car?
38. Activity: Astro-Autos Now suppose you were raised by wild scientists who live on the moon, where you have never seen a car or any motor vehicle. From the moon, using only your powerful telescopes and your trusty camera, you are again told to find out all about cars, what they are, what they are used for, and how they work. How would you start your study of cars now?
41. Surveys Large efforts to collect data about many different stars or other astrophysical objects are called “surveys”. These may involve many telescopes doing observations, or one telescope working for a really long time. The goal is to get information on as many objects as possible – you’re looking for the total variation as well as the rare individual objects.
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45. Imagine the stars as being points on a sphere that rotates around the Earth.
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47. Coordinate Systems Stars’ positions in the sky are specified using two major astronomical coordinate systems The altitude-azimuth system Altitude is the object’s angle above the horizon 0 degrees is on the horizon, 90 degrees is straight overhead. Azimuth is the object’s angle along the horizon 0 degrees = North, 90 degrees = East, 180 degrees = South, 270 degrees = West.
48. Coordinate Systems The Right Ascension – Declination system maps the object’s position on the celestial sphere. Right ascension is celestial equivalent of longitude. Declination is celestial equivalent of latitude – measured above and below celestial equator. By knowing how the celestial sphere “moves” as the night sky, can know where to find an object at any location and time where it is visible.
49. Using Coordinates Suppose you call your significant other who is working across town to tell him/her about the particular star you are looking at while thinking about them. Which coordinate system should you use? Suppose you call your significant other who is now VISITING JAPAN to tell them about the star you saw when thinking about them. Which coordinate system should you use to describe the star’s location now?
50. Final Comments Don’t forget to turn in the Astro-Autos activity you completed earlier in this lecture!
