Visiting the stars

Martin Gil and the discourse of astronomic publishing in Argentina at the beginning of the 20th Century

Abstract

The history of the popularization of science in Argentina is rich in formats, texts, and authors, many of whom remain unknown even today. The aim of this paper is to examine the conditions of production, circulation, and reception surrounding the articles written by a cordovan astronomer for La Nación newspaper during almost forty years. His work began approximately in 1906 or 1907, and it was both continuous and successful. Despite this fact, he has been forgotten, perhaps because he adhered to a theory disparaged by his contemporary scientific community, and which could still be discredited in modern times. Nevertheless, his work was determined by factors that converged to shape him into the social figure of a popular scientist. Despite academic rejection, the success of his texts poses questions that this essay hopes to answer through the analysis of his articles. For this purpose, it is important to consider, not only the themes he dealt with, but also his style, which was mindful of the medium he was writing for. His texts show a discursive dynamic centered on the explanation of phenomena related to astronomy, but which never ignores a global discursive strategy that calls for pleasing and attractive reading.