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The Key To Astronomy Has Often Been Serendipity
Ars Technica has a great look at just how often serendipity plays a part in major astronomy advances. From Galileo to the accidental discovery of cosmic microwaves, it seems that it is still better to be lucky than good. "But what's stunning is a catalog of just how common this sort of event has been. Herschell was looking for faint stars when he happened across the planet Uranus, while Piazi was simply creating a star catalog when he observed the object that turned out to be the first asteroid to ever be described, Ceres I."
My point too... How is this news? As has often been said, science is less about "Eureka!" and more about "Hmm, that's odd..."
Modding "-1, Troll" is not a proper response if you disagree with me. Try reason.
Even more: astronomy is mainly an observational science. If something does not happen (or more preciselly, the information of the event arrives) right when you are looking out, you will never discover it. You cannot set up an experiment to test your ideas you always need to be lucky enough to see things happen.
Ok. So that theory about the big bang is nice. Let's make another big bang so we can test it.
Chance favors the prepared mind. -- Louis Pasteur
It's funny how "lucky" things often happen to those striving to do new and interesting things in various pursuits. In order for luck to cause anything to happen you have to be set up to take advantage of the lucky situation. The more you do the "luckier" you'll get. (As long as you keep your eyes open while you do it.)
E pluribus unum