Lowrie, Ian (2012) On Adaptive Optics: The Historical Constitution of Architectures for Expert Perception in Astronomy. Spontaneous Generations: A Journal for the History and Philosophy of Science, 6 (1). pp. 203-224. ISSN 1913-0465
|
Text
16133-Article Text-43471-2-10-20121003.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution No Derivatives. Download (360kB) | Preview |
Abstract
This article charts the development of the modern astronomical observational system. I am interested most acutely in the digitization of this system in general, and in the introduction of adaptive optics in particular. I argue that these features have been critical in establishing the modern observatory as a factory for scientific data, rather than as a center of calculation in its own right. Throughout, the theoretical focus is on the nature of technological evolution in the observational system, understood as inextricably bound up with both the system-internal drive to surpass the limits imposed upon the distributed cognition of the researcher and the boundary at which empirical objects resolve themselves into technical objects. In short, this article explores the historically constituted character of expert astronomical perception, arguing that it is impossible to understand without constant reference to its material substrate.
Export/Citation: | EndNote | BibTeX | Dublin Core | ASCII/Text Citation (Chicago) | HTML Citation | OpenURL |
Social Networking: |
Monthly Views for the past 3 years
Monthly Downloads for the past 3 years
Plum Analytics
Altmetric.com
Actions (login required)
View Item |