The most remarkable developments in the last century of astronomy are the enormous expansion in the power of both our observing capabilities and the content of our astronomical theories. But despite these astonishing advances, astronomers still grapple with fundamental questions about the universe: its size, its beginning, and our place within it.

In this lecture, Robert Smith, professor of history at the University of Alberta, will examine how astronomers in the past set out to address these questions. He will also place the James Webb Space Telescope into a broad context to better reveal the place of the premier space observatory in the next decade of astronomy. 

The Exploring Space Lecture Series is made possible by the generous support of Aerojet Rocketdyne and United Launch Alliance.