The Distance Scale to Gamma Ray Bursts – 75th Anniversary Astronomical Debate

Welcome to the 75th Anniversary Astronomical Debate, an event held at the Baird Auditorium of the Natural History Museum at The Smithsonian Institution on April 22, 1995. This debate commemorates the Shapley-Curtis 'Great Debate' of 1920, a pivotal moment in human understanding of the Universe's scale and our place within it. The modern debate features some of the leading astronomers of the latter half of the 20th century, including the two champions of opposing viewpoints, to discuss the greatest astronomical controversy of our time: Gamma Ray Bursts.

The debate program is sponsored by NASA, The Smithsonian Institution, George Mason University, and various other organizations. The program organizers include Robert J. Nemiroff, Jerry T. Bonnell, Jeffrey J. Goldstein, Sandra Barnes, Jay P. Norris, Carlo Graziani, Sandra Johnson, and Carolyn Weissbach. The welcome remarks are given by Robert Nemiroff, an Assistant Research Professor at George Mason University and Visiting Scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.

The schedule for the day includes opening lectures on the 1920 Shapley-Curtis discussion and an introduction to Gamma-Ray Bursts, followed by a moderated debate between two prominent astronomers with opposing viewpoints on the subject. The debate consists of opening arguments, rebuttals, and closing statements from each participant, as well as questions and comments from the audience. The event concludes with a closing remark by Martin Rees and announcements from Robert Nemiroff.