Space ScienceEDWIN HUBBLE: A SHINING STAR IN THE WORLD OF ASTRONOMY
EDWIN HUBBLE was an American Astronomer who played crucial role in the field of extra galactic astronomy and observational Cosmology.
Early Life
Edwin Hubble was born on November 20, 1889, in Marshfield, Missouri, United States of America, into a middle-class family, His full name was Edwin Powell Hubble. His father’s name was John Powell and mother’s name was Virginia Lee ,His family was very disciplined. Edwin’s father was an insurance executive in Marshfield Missouri. When Hubble was 10 years old, his family moved to Chicago. He was very intelligent from the young age and had a keen interest in science, literature, and sports. In his younger age he was a gifted athlete, playing baseball ,football and running tracks in highschool and college level.
His personal life, Edwin Hubble’s wife was Grace Lillian Burke Leib, whom he married on February 26, 1924. Grace was a supportive partner throughout his life and career, but Hubble was a calm and serious natured person. Apart from studying and research, he also had a love for art, literature, and nature.
Education
Hubble received his early education at Wheaton High School in Chicago. He was a good athlete and took an interest in boxing. He studied science at the University of Chicago, where he developed a deep interest in physics and mathematics. He was awarded the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship, through which he went to Oxford University in England and obtained a degree in law. However, his passion for science brought him back to astronomy, and he returned to the United States.
In 1917 during the world war 1 , in Germany Edwin rushed to complete his Ph.D dissertation so he could join the military. After the war in 1919 Hubble was offered staff position at the Carnegie institute of sciences Mount Wilson observatory near Pasadena California by Gorge elleri Hale the founder and director of the observatory. When
In 1913 Edwin’s father died and after that he took the responsibility of his family also,Williams Edwin was a dutiful son who despite intense interest in astronomy since boyhood acquiesced to his father’s request to study the law first at the Chicago university and later at Oxford university. In this time he took some maths and science courses. After his father’s death he lost the motivation and practice in law instead he proceeded to teach Spanish, Physics and maths at new Albany highschool
Scientific Career and Discoveries
Edwin Hubble’s contributions to astronomy were revolutionary. He worked during a time when our knowledge of the universe was very limited. His most famous discoveries include here
1. Definition of Galaxy
He studied the Andromeda Nebula (previously thought to be a cloud-like object) and proved that it was actually a separate galaxy located outside the Milky Way. Before this, scientists believed that the entire universe was limited to our galaxy. Hubble found cepheids in several nebulae like Andromeda nebula and triangulum nebula. His observations made in 1924 proved conclusively that these nebulae are too distant to be a part of the milky way. In such a way Hubble’s observations and findings fundamentally changed the scientific view of the universe. Hubble devised the most commonly used system for classifying Galaxies and grouping them according to their appearance in photographic images. He arranged the different groups of galaxies in what became known as the Hubble sequence.
2. Hubble’s Law
Hubble’s Law describes the relationship between the distance of a galaxy and its recession velocity (how fast it’s moving away from us). The law states:
Hubble’s Law Formula
v = H × d
Where:
– v is the recession velocity (in km/s)
– H is the Hubble constant (approximately 67 km/s/Mpc)
– d is the distance to the galaxy (in megaparsecs, Mpc)
Implications
Hubble’s Law implies:
1. Expanding Universe: The universe is expanding, with galaxies moving away from each other.
2. Distance-Velocity Relationship: The farther away a galaxy is, the faster it’s moving away from us.
Significance
Hubble’s Law has been instrumental in:
1. Understanding Cosmic Expansion: It helps us understand the expansion history and evolution of the universe.
2. Measuring Distances: It provides a way to estimate distances to galaxies and other celestial objects.
Hubble’s Law has revolutionized our understanding of the universe, and its implications continue to shape modern astrophysics and cosmology.
In 1929, Hubble discovered that the farther a galaxy is, the faster it is moving away from us. This means that the universe is expanding. This discovery laid the scientific foundation for the *Big Bang Theory*.
3. Expansion of the Universe
Hubble’s research disproved the idea of a static universe. He showed that the universe is continuously expanding over the time.
4. Important Institutions and Telescopes
Edwin Hubble’s arrival at mount Wilson observatory California in 1919 coincided roughly with the completion of the 100 inch Hooker telescope then the world’s largest telescope. By using this huge telescope he started research work in the field of astronomy.
He identified Cephied variables as standard candles discovered by Henrietta swan Levitt. He compared the apparent luminosity to their intrinsic luminosity gives their distance from the earth.
Awards and Honors
Hubble received several honors during his lifetime. However, it is unfortunate that he never received the *Nobel Prize*, as astronomy was not considered an eligible category for the award at that time. But he won many hearts and Awards like,
1) Newcomb Cleveland prize in 1924
2)Bruce medal in 1938
3) Franklin medal in 1939
4)Gold medal of Royal astronomical society in 1940
For Namesake Asteroid 2069 Hubble
The crater on moon Hubble
Orbiting Hubble space telescope
In his honor, an advanced space telescope named the *Hubble Space Telescope*was launched in 1990, which still sends breathtaking images of the universe back to Earth.
Legacy of Edwin Hubble
Hubble is known as the “Father of Modern Cosmology” in the history of astronomy. His discoveries revealed that we are part of a vast, ever-expanding universe. His name is still remembered with great respect by scientists and astronomy enthusiasts.
Death
Hubble had a heart attack in July 1949 while on vacation in Colorado. He was cared for by his wife and continued on a modified diet and work schedule. On September 28, 1953, Hubble passed away in Pasadena, California, due to cerebral thrombosis (a blood clot in the brain). Even after his death, his discoveries remain immortal in the world of science. No funeral was held for him and his wife never revealed his burial site, absolutely he was one the greatest scientists of the world hence Hubble will be remembered forever for his groundbreaking research in the field of Space Science and Technology and Astronomy in the world scientific Community as well.
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