Explore the astronomical insights of Dante Alighieri's "The Divine Comedy" in this captivating lecture by astrophysicist Dr. Sperello di Serego Alighieri, a descendant of the renowned poet. Delve into Dante's journey through the universe, examining how his medieval knowledge anticipated modern scientific concepts. Discover the poet's understanding of lunar features, the Milky Way galaxy, and his prescient vision of a curved, finite yet unlimited universe that foreshadowed Einstein's hypersphere. Gain a fresh perspective on this classic poem, viewing it through an astronomical lens as you learn about equinoxes, the Earth's center, and Dante's thought experiments. Uncover the fascinating intersection of literature and science in this 1-hour 33-minute presentation from the Hubble Space Telescope organization.
Overview
Syllabus
Introduction
Tarantula Nebula
Dantes Astronomy
The Four Stars
The Equinoxes
The Emergence Lands
Crossing the Equator
The Mountain of Purgatory
The Center of the Earth
The Milky Way
Mistakes
Errors
Three Mirrors
Thought Experiments
Taught by
Hubble Space Telescope
