Frankenstein's Moon

Discovery

BBC

Science, Technology

4.3 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 10 September 2012

⏱️ 19 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

What can astronomy tells us about great literature?

Forensic astronomer Don Olson tells Andrew Luck-Baker about two of his investigative cases. He explains how plotting the path of the moon in 1816 solved a controversy about Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein.

The Texas State University professor also outlines his theory that a star referred to in Shakespeare’s Hamlet was inspired by a spectacular supernova which blazed in sky one year during the playwright’s childhood.

(Image: Baron Frankenstein, played by Peter Cushing, leans over his monstor in the film The Curse of Frankenstein. Credit: Getty Images)

Transcript

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1:15.5	slash podcasts. In today's discovery from the BBC, astronomy and literature mix. The moonlight
1:34.4	light struggling through.
1:35.4	When yon's same star that's westward from the pole
1:41.4	had made his course to loom that part of heaven where now it burns.
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