Observations, Simulations, and Reasoning in Astrophysics.

Astrophysics faces methodological challenges as a result of being a predominantly observation-based science without access to traditional experiments. In light of these challenges, astrophysicists frequently rely on computer simulations. Using collisional ring galaxies as a case study, I argue that...

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Published in:Philosophy of Science Vol. 87; no. 5; pp. 1209 - 1221
Main Author: Jacquart, Melissa
Format: Article
Published: Cambridge University Press Dec2020
Subjects:
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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        au: Jacquart, Melissa
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        Astrophysics
        Computer simulation
        Astrophysicists
        Galaxies
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          Astrophysics
          Computer simulation
          Astrophysicists
          Galaxies
      ab: Astrophysics faces methodological challenges as a result of being a predominantly observation-based science without access to traditional experiments. In light of these challenges, astrophysicists frequently rely on computer simulations. Using collisional ring galaxies as a case study, I argue that computer simulations play three roles in reasoning in astrophysics: (1) hypothesis testing, (2) exploring possibility space, and (3) amplifying observations.
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