Charles D. Perrine y el “gran debate” de la astronomía a comienzos del siglo XX

Abstract

En 1920, en la Academia de Ciencias de los Estados Unidos, se presentó un debate público en torno a las escalas del universo entre Heber D. Curtis del Observatorio Lick y Harlow Shapley del Observatorio de Mount Wilson. En este debate participaron numerosos astrónomos quienes adoptaron diversas posiciones al respecto. La presente investigación se halla en curso y se centra en dilucidar cuál era la postura de Charles D. Perrine, director del Observatorio Nacional Argentino (1909-1936). Precisamente, se intenta mostrar algunas influencias epistémicas de tal controversia en ciertas investigaciones astrofísicas de Perrine en Córdoba. Como fuentes importantes para esta investigación histórica, se ha considerado la correspondencia de 1920 y de 1921, entre Perrine, Curtis y William W. Campbell (director del Observatorio Lick). Asimismo, se ha analizado documentación existente en los archivos del Museo del Observatorio Astronómico (MOA) de la Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (UNC).

In 1920, a public debate on the scales of the universe was held, at the Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, between Heber D. Curtis of Lick Observatory and Harlow Shapley of Mount Wilson Observatory. Many astronomers participated in this debate and adopted different positions in relation to that matter. The present research is being carried out and focuses on elucidating the position of Charles D. Perrine, director of the Argentine National Observatory (1909-1936). Precisely, an attempt is made to show some epistemic influences of such controversy in certain astrophysical investigations of Perrine in Córdoba. As important sources for this historical research, the letters of 1920 and 1921 among Perrine, Curtis and William W. Campbell (director of the Lick Observatory) have been considered. Several documents, available within the files of the Museum of the Astronomical Observatory (MOA) of the National University of Córdoba (UNC), have been analysed.