2009/08/19 by A. C. Fabian, Fabian, A. C. · 1 citation
Decision Sciences · #Astrophysics of Galaxies (astro-ph.GA) #Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics (astro-ph.CO) #FOS: Physical sciences #Popular Physics (physics.pop-ph) #Scientific Computing and Data Management
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.0908.2784
openalex publication_date 2009/08/19 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Astronomy is an observationally-led subject where chance discoveries play an important role. A whole range of such discoveries is continually made, from the trivial to the highly significant. What is generally needed is for luck to strike someone who is prepared, in the sense that they appreciate that something novel has been seen. "Chance favours the prepared mind" in the words of Pasteur, 1854.