Early Astrophotography was Controversial (with Anika Burgess)

Early Astrophotography was Controversial (with Anika Burgess)

January 30, 2026 · 16 min

About this episode

Dean Regas discusses the controversial history of astrophotography with Anika Burgess.

The question seems completely absurd to us in the 21st century: should we use cameras to help with astronomical research? Well, of course. Why wouldn’t we? But in the early 20th century, this was a heated debate that echoed in the domes of many established observatories around the world. So when did the camera really outshine the eye for documenting things in space? Dean Regas chats with Anika Burgess, author of Flashes of Brilliance: The Genius of Early Photography and How it Transformed Art, Science, and History, to learn more.

People in this episode

Host: Dean Regas

Guest: Anika Burgess

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Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Flashes of Brilliance: The Genius of Early Photography and How it Transformed Art, Science, and History

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