  The scientific method is often presented, e.g. to children, as a linear
process, starting by a question and ending by the elaboration of a theory, with
a few experiments in-between. The reality of the building of science is much
more complex, with back-and-forth motions between theories and observations,
with some intervention of technology and randomness. This complex process is
not always correctly understood and assimilated, even amongst scientists. The
hero cult, mixed with some revisionism, still exists despite in-depth
historical studies. In this context, it may be useful to comparatively examine
the reaction to crucial observations, their interpretation and their impact on
the contemporaneous theory development. Four examples are presented here, all
linked to the question of the 'construction of the heavens' but at different
epochs.
