Laboratory Astrophysics: Lessons for Epistemology of Astrophysics

Abstract Astrophysics is often cast as an observational science, devoid of traditional experiments, along with astronomy and cosmology. Yet, a thriving field experimental research exists called laboratory astrophysics. How should we make sense this apparent tension? I argue that approaching the epistemology astrophysics by attending to production empirical data aims better illuminates both successes challenges in than evaluating according presence or absence experiments.