Flamsteed Astronomy Society: History of Astronomy

History of Astronomy: Ring of Fire – The Chronicles of Eddington and Chandrashekar

In the winter of 1935, the Royal Astronomical Society became the stage for one of the most dramatic confrontations in the history of stellar astrophysics. At its centre stood two brilliant minds – Sir Arthur Eddington, the most influential astronomer of his age, and the young prodigy Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, whose revolutionary ideas would one day reshape our understanding of the stars.

Ring of Fire – The Chronicles of Eddington and Chandrasekhar takes you inside this extraordinary scientific clash: a battle of intellect, ego, culture, and conviction. We'll explore the origins of their disagreement, the explosive meeting where theory met authority, and the long shadow the dispute cast over both men's careers.

From the decks of a ship crossing the Indian Ocean to the lecture halls of Cambridge… from the mathematics of collapsing stars to the human drama of ambition and resistance… this talk reveals how a single scientific argument ignited a decades‑long controversy – and ultimately paved the way for black holes, neutron stars, and modern astrophysics.

Join us for a story of brilliance and stubbornness, courage and humiliation, and the fiery collision that changed the course of stellar physics.

Meet the Speaker

Bobby Manoo is Chair of Flamsteed Astronomy Society and is a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. 

Bobby has had a long interest in the History of Astronomy and has previously coordinated the History of Astronomy group within Flamsteed for more than five years.

Join today for a host of exclusive benefits and events, including unlimited free entry to Cutty Sark, the Royal Observatory, and special exhibitions at the National Maritime Museum.

With Membership starting from as little as £65, what are you waiting for? Membership is your time to explore!

Image Credit: NASA First image of a black hole, taken using the Event Horizon Telescope (Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration)