Looking to History and the Skies for Understanding

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July 2, 2021 – William Donahue of St. John’s College in Santa Fe sits down with NMiF senior producer Matt Grubs to talk about receiving the LeRoy Doggett Prize for his work in historical astronomy. The American Astronomical Society recently named Donahue as its winner for his contributions to the field. Donahue talks about why it’s important to study the science of the past, as well as his translations of works by Johannes Kepler and his discovery that some of Kepler’s so-called observations were actually mathematical sleight of hand, working backward from his theory of planetary movement. 

Correspondent: Matt Grubs

Guest: William Donahue, American Astronomical Society Doggett Prize winner, St. John’s College 

For More Information: 

William H. Donahue Receives 2022 LeRoy E. Doggett Prize – Los Alamos Daily Post 

The LeRoy E. Doggett Prize for Historical Astronomy  – Historical Astronomy Division, American Astronomical Society 

Newest scientific device at St. John’s College is old school – Albuquerque Journal 
 
Web Extras: 
Charting the Heavens 
Discovering Kepler’s Discovery 
The Value of Scientific Errors 
Johannes Kepler and Tycho Brahe