Shaping a multimessenger universe. Historical and epistemological perspectives on the changing skyscape of astronomical observation

Multi-messenger astronomy has recently emerged and gained prominence in the scientific literature as a novel form of big science, characterized by organizational structures and epistemic practices that distinguish it from traditional large-scale endeavors. Despite scientists' recognition of the profound conceptual and social reconfiguration accompanying its rise, no in-depth historical analysis has yet been undertaken. This The present special issue addresses this gap by offering the first historical exploration of the field's emergence. In this the introduction to the special issue, we examine the challenges of tracing the complex historical and conceptual relationships between multi-messenger astronomy and the subfields now encompassed within it—especially astroparticle physics, multi-wavelength astronomy, and gravitational-wave detection—and of delimiting both the temporal span and the disciplinary contours of what should be included in its history. Underlying these efforts is the persistent ambiguity of the term “multi-messenger astronomy,” which remains contested among practitioners. To navigate these complexities, we discuss how historical analyses lead tend to regard multi-messenger astronomy not merely as a sum of disparate astrophysical methods but as a novel integrative paradigm with its own internal logic and collaborative practices. Our review of practitioner narratives further reveals at least three distinct perceptions of the epistemic cultures that shaped the field's rise: those who emphasize the role of real-time alert systems, those who stress the continuity of individual messenger disciplines, and those who highlight proto-–multi-messenger episodes and near-misses. Finally, we introduce the contributions to this special issue, highlighting how these essays illuminate the interpretative and epistemological dimensions that compel us to revisit foundational debates about the field's subdisciplines and defining characteristics, and inviting an interdisciplinary dialogue among historians, philosophers, and scientists on what truly constitutes multi-messenger science.