Goodricke
from class: Intro to Astronomy Definition John Goodricke was an 18th-century astronomer known for his work on variable stars. He made significant contributions to the understanding of these stars' periodic brightness changes.
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Predict what's on your test 5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test John Goodricke discovered the periodic variability of the star Algol. Goodricke proposed that Algol's variability was due to an eclipsing binary system, a hypothesis later confirmed. He received the Copley Medal from the Royal Society for his groundbreaking work on variable stars. Despite being deaf, Goodricke made detailed astronomical observations and calculations. Goodricke's work laid foundational knowledge for using variable stars as 'standard candles' to measure cosmic distances. Review Questions What significant discovery did John Goodricke make about the star Algol? How did Goodricke explain the variability in brightness of Algol? What prestigious award did John Goodricke receive for his contributions to astronomy?
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