logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2023
31m 33s

AaS! 204: How did Annie Jump Cannon Brin...

Paul M. Sutter
About this episode

How was massive astronomy done in the 1800’s? Who were the Harvard Computers? How did Annie Jump Cannon figure out how to classify stars? I discuss these questions and more in today’s Ask a Spaceman!

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/spaceman and get on your way to being your best self. Visit BetterHelp to get 10% off your first month!

Support the show: http://www.patreon.com/pmsutter All episodes: http://www.AskASpaceman.com

Follow on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/PaulMattSutter Like on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PaulMattSutter Watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/PaulMSutter

Read a book: http://www.pmsutter/book

Keep those questions about space, science, astronomy, astrophysics, physics, and cosmology coming to #AskASpaceman for COMPLETE KNOWLEDGE OF TIME AND SPACE!

Big thanks to my top Patreon supporters this month: Justin G, Chris L, Barbara K, Duncan M, Corey D, Justin Z, Naila, Scott M, Rob H, Justin, Louis M, John W, Alexis, Gilbert M, Joshua, John S, Thomas D, Simon G, Erin J, Jessica K, Valerie H, David B, Frank T, Tim R, Tom Van S, Mark R, Alan B, Craig B, Richard K, Dave L, Stephen M, Maureen R, Stace J, Neil P, COTFM, Stephen S, Ken L, Alberto M, Matt C, Joe R, David P, Ulfert B, Sean M, Edward K, Tracy F, Sarah K, Steven S, Ryan L, Ella F, Richard S, Sam R, Thomas K, James C, Jorg D, R Larche, Syamkumar M, John S, Fred S, Homer V, Mark D, Colin B, Bruce A, Steven M, Brent B, Bill E, Tim Z, Thomas W, Linda C, David W, Aissa F, Marc H, Avery P, Scott M, Thomas H, Farshad A, Matthias S, Kenneth D, Maureen R, Michael W, Scott W, David W, Neuterdude, Cha0sKami, Robert C, Robert B, Gary K, Stephen J, dhr18, Anna V, Matthew G, Paul & Giulia S, Ron D, Steven M, Louis M, Michael C, Alyssa K, Lode D, Roger, Bob C, Patti H, Red B, Benjamin M, BlueDragon, Stephen A, Ian S, James R, Skip M, Robert O, Adam I, Lynn D, Jeffrey C, Allen E, Paul G, Michael S, Jordan, Colin H, Jessica M, Thomas H, Reinaldo A, and Amy Z!

Thanks to Cathy Rinella for editing.

Hosted by Paul M. Sutter.

Up next
Jun 2025
AaS! 249: Where Do the Constants of Nature Come From? Part 1
Part 1 of 2! How do fundamental constants appear in physics? Why are they so important? Why do we care where they come from? I discuss these questions and more in today’s Ask a Spaceman! Support the show: http://www.patreon.com/pmsutter All episodes: http://www.AskASpaceman.com W ... Show More
36m 11s
May 2025
AaS! 247: How Can We Get Giant Black Holes in the Early Universe?
How do we explain the giant black holes appearing in the young universe? Is it possible to directly collapse a black hole, skipping the formation of stars? What does ultraviolet radiation have to do with this? I discuss these questions and more in today’s Ask a Spaceman! Support ... Show More
28m 45s
Apr 2025
AaS! 246: What is Stephen Hawking’s Legacy?
How do you measure the impact of a scientist? Does Stephen Hawking compare to Newton or Einstein? What were his contributions to black holes, the big bang, and quantum gravity? I discuss these questions and more in today’s Ask a Spaceman! Support the show: http://www.patreon.com/ ... Show More
36m 20s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2024
Ask A Spaceman Ep. 233: Why Do We Care About Methane On Mars?
What’s behind the Martian Methane Mystery? Is it a sign of life, or just some strange chemical process? Or are we just fooling ourselves? I discuss these questions and more in today’s Ask a Spaceman!   This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhe ... Show More
35m 18s
Oct 2024
Ask A Spaceman Ep. 234: How Could We Turn the Sun Into a Telescope?
How do gravitational lenses work? Where would a spacecraft need to be to use the Sun’s gravity as a telescope? What could we learn about exoplanets with this on weird trick? I discuss these questions and more in today’s Ask a Spaceman!   This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. G ... Show More
35m 39s
Nov 2024
Ask A Spaceman Ep. 235: Is it Time to Redefine the Planet?
How did Pluto get demoted? What makes a planet a planet anyway? Why do we now have so many different kinds of planets, and should we make things simpler? I discuss these questions and more in today’s Ask a Spaceman!   This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a ... Show More
39m 53s
May 2025
Cosmic Queries – Negative Gravity
What happens to gravity when matter converts to energy? Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-host Paul Mecurio dive into fan questions about the speed of light, time machine mistakes, and what Neil would do if he were an alien.NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen to this entire episode comme ... Show More
47m 50s
Jun 2025
Cosmic Queries – Dimensional Leaking
Is the whole universe actually a jinn particle? Neil deGrasse Tyson and cohosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly hang out with astrophysicist Charles Liu to answer questions about the nature of gravity, dark matter, and why we don’t actually know how the solar corona gets hot. NOTE: ... Show More
44m 44s
Oct 7
Things You Thought You Knew – Quantum Cat
What happens when you fall into a black hole? Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice give us the step-by-step on spaghettification, explain Schrodinger's cat, and explore quantum tunnelling… Or do they? NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen to this entire episode commercial-free here: h ... Show More
46m 35s
Sep 5
Cosmic Queries – Grabby Aliens with Charles Liu
What would happen if the speed of light were infinite? Neil deGrasse Tyson, joined by co-hosts Chuck Nice, Gary O’Reilly, and astrophysicist Charles Liu, answers questions about quantum entanglement, qubits, higher dimensions, grabby aliens, and more!NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can l ... Show More
50m 47s
Sep 16
Gravity’s Cosmic Symphony with Kelly Holley-Bockelmann
Could LISA detect primordial black holes or gravitational waves from the Big Bang? Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-host Chuck Nice explore LISA and the future of gravitational wave astronomy with astrophysicist Kelly Holley-Bockelmann.NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen to this entire ... Show More
53m 42s
Sep 9
Cosmic Queries - Black Hole Universe
Are we closer in size to an atom or the universe? Neil deGrasse Tyson and Paul Mecurio answer grab-bag questions about Hawking Radiation, power on the moon, and whether our universe is inside a black hole.NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen to this entire episode commercial-free h ... Show More
43m 32s
Sep 30
The New Space Race with Jeff Thornburg
What will the future of space look like? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice explore the engineering challenges and scientific questions shaping the next era of aerospace with aerospace engineer Jeff Thornburg.NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen to this entire episode ... Show More
1h 7m