Edwin Powell Hubble, one of the 20th century's most influential cosmologists, revolutionised our understanding of the universe by confirming the existence of galaxies beyond the Milky Way.
Known as the father of extragalactic astronomy, his discoveries reshaped modern cosmology and remain integral to how we perceive the cosmos.
Journey from Law to the Stars
Born on 20 November 1889 in Marshfield, Missouri, Hubble grew up with a deep curiosity about science. Despite his passion, he initially followed his father’s wishes and studied law at the University of Oxford.
However, after the death of his father in 1913, Hubble shifted paths and pursued astronomy. He returned to the United States and earned a doctorate from the University of Chicago, focusing his research on faint nebulae.
In 1917, he secured a position at the prestigious Mount Wilson Observatory, though Wor??ld War I delayed his appointment as he enlisted in the army.
At Mount Wilson, Hubble studied the spiral nebulae—mysterious objects that astronomers debated were part of the Milky Way or distant galaxies.
In 1923, he identified Cepheid variable stars in the Andromeda Nebula, which proved that Andromeda lay far outside our galaxy, confirming it as a separate galaxy.
This discovery was pivotal, expanding our understanding of the universe to include countless galaxies beyond the Milky Way.
The Expanding Universe
Hubble’s most famous contribution came in 1929, when he discovered that galaxies are receding from us, with their speed increasing in direct proportion to their distance.
This observation, known as Hubble’s Law, provided strong evidence for the expanding universe theory, which has since become a cornerstone of modern cosmology.
Although Hubble remained cautious about interpreting redshifts as definitive proof of an expanding universe, his findings laid the foundation for future generations of astronomers.
His 1936 book, The Realm of the Nebulae, remains a seminal work in the field.
Legacy and the Hubble Space Telescope
Hubble continued his work at the Palomar Observatory, contributing to further advances in astronomical research until the 1930s. During World War II, he served in an administrative role for the US military.
After his death in 1953, Hubble’s cosmic legacy lived on, particularly through the Hubble Space Telescope, launched in 1990 in his honour.
This telescope, which has transformed our understanding of the universe, is a fitting tribute to the visionary who revealed its vastness.
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