TED: A stellar history of modern astronomy | Emily Levesque

The video discusses the evolution of astronomical observation from Oscar Duhalde's naked-eye discovery of a supernova in 1987 to modern techniques using advanced telescopes. It highlights the challenges of using glass plates in the past, Edwin Hubble's groundbreaking work with photographic plates, and the advancements in telescope technology that allow remote observations. The Vera Rubin Observatory is introduced as a future tool for systematic supernova discovery, emphasizing the shift from manual to computational methods in astronomy.

What challenges did astronomers face when using glass photographic plates?

How do astronomers today discover supernovae compared to the past?

Explain the role of the Vera Rubin Observatory in modern astronomy.

What is the importance of human curiosity in the field of astronomy according to the text?