Lecture: Where does our knowledge about space come from?

Picture:Vadim Sadovski

Sascha Skorupka, physics and engineering, Fulda University of Applied Sciences: Where does our knowledge about space come from? Astronomy from antiquity to the present day

We know roughly how heavy the Sun is, how far away it is and with some precision, its surface temperature. We also know the size of the galaxy we inhabit and that there is a gigantic black hole at its centre. We even know approximately how old our Universe is. People have been interested in the mysteries of the heavens and the Universe for millennia. Ideas about what space is and how it works have evolved over time. But how do we know all this? This talk gives an overview of the history of astronomy and explains what means we are using today to decipher the last mysteries of the Universe.

This series of talks accompanies the special exhibition ‘Departure to Universe! The Experience of Space Travel’, which will be showcased at Heinz Nixdorf Museums Forum from 5 July 2019 to 5 January 2020. In a space covering 800 square metres, visitors will be taken on an exciting voyage of discovery through space and time, during which they will hear an account of the conquest of space by humans and experience it themselves via interactive stations.

‘Departure to Universe!’ was conceived by HNF in cooperation with the DLR Space Administration.

Admission to the talks is free.