Reference
- Hubble, Edwin (Powell) (1889-1953): Credo ReferenceUS astronomer who studied extragalactic nebulae and demonstrated them to be galaxies like our own. He found the first evidence for the expansion of the universe, in accordance with the cosmological theories of Georges Lemaître and Willem de Sitter, and his work led to an enormous expansion of our perception of the size of the universe.
Online Resources
- Cautious revolutionaries: Maxwell, Planck, HubbleThree scientists exemplified the cautious behavior that we might like all scientists to display: indeed, they were so critical of their own ideas that they risked losing credit for them. Nevertheless, they finally earned at least as much fame as they deserved, leaving historians to wonder about what they really believed. Maxwell initially rejected the kinetic theory of gases because two of its predictions disagreed with experiments; later he revived the theory, showed that one of those experiments had been misinterpreted, and eventually became known as one of the founders of the modern theory. Planck seems to have intended his 1900 quantum hypothesis as a mathematical device, not a physical discontinuity; later he limited it to the emission (not absorption) of radiation, thereby discovering “zero-point energy.” Eventually he accepted the physical quantum hypothesis and became known as its discoverer. Hubble (with Humason) established the distance–velocity law, which others used as a basis for the expanding universe theory; later he suggested that redshifts may not be due to motion and appeared to lean toward a static model in place of the expanding universe.
- The exploration of spacehe article highlights the space exploration of Edwin Powell Hubble, an American astronomer. It says that astronomy is the study of universe: the study of its structure and its behavior. It further states that the exploration fall into three phases, including the picture of the solar system, the emersion of the picture of a stellar system and the conquest of the outer space.
- Extragalactic distance scales: H0 from Hubble (Edwin) to Hubble (Hubble telescope)In the first fifty years after Edwin Hubble announced a linear relationship between distances and redshifts of external galaxies, the accepted value of his constant dropped by (or the Universe expanded and aged by) a factor of 5 to 10. More recently, different groups, often using nearly the same data, have passionately defended distance scales that differ by about a factor of two.
- Hubble cleared: a painstaking study absolves US astronomer Edwin Hubble of censoring a Belgian rivalEdwin Hubble is that relatively rare thing among dead astronomers--a global household name. He owes his status mainly to the NASA space telescope named in his honour. So when researchers suggested this year that Hubble might have censored the work of a rival to secure credit for the groundbreaking discovery that the Universe is expanding, they triggered a fuss that was far removed from the usual arcane wrangling over historical research priority.
Streaming Media
- Cosmology and the Cosmological ConstantInvestigate what Einstein reportedly called his "biggest blunder": his insistence that the universe is static, despite the prediction of general relativity that space is either expanding or contracting. Explore why general relativity is inconsistent with a static universe, and chart astronomer Edwin Hubble's pioneering observations that prove we live in an expanding cosmos.
- Edwin Hubble and the Expanding UniverseIn this episode, unpack the mysteries of Hubble's law. First, take a closer look at each part of this deceptively simple equation. Then, encounter the many heroes behind the law, including Vesto Slipher, an astronomer at Arizona's Lowell Observatory, and Georges Lemaître, a Belgian priest and astronomer who may have influenced Hubble's insights.
- Heroes of the Hubble Space TelescopeHere, focus on the story of Edwin Hubble's most famous namesake: the Hubble Space Telescope. Among the heroes who helped make this vision a reality were the astrophysicist Lyman Spitzer; Nancy Roman, NASA's first chief of astronomy; and a team of astronomers and telescope builders who helped repair a critical problem post-launch.
- The Sombrero Galaxy: An Island UniverseIn the 1920s, astronomer Edwin Hubble discovered the true nature of galaxies as island universes. Some 80 years later, the telescope named in his honor has made thousands of breathtaking pictures of galaxies. Focus on one in particular: an edge-on view of the striking Sombrero galaxy.
- Which Universe Is Ours?Investigate what Einstein called his “greatest mistake”—his rejection of his own theory’s prediction that spacetime should be dynamic and evolving. Chart the work of a group of scientists, including Alexander Friedman, Georges Lemaître, and Edwin Hubble, who advanced the realization that our universe is expanding from an apparent big bang.
Perspectives
Hubble, Humason and the Big Bang
The story of Hubble and Humason is one for the ages--and in particular, the Cosmic Age. In this compelling book, science writer Ron Voller digs deep into how and why the two scientists continued to investigate their theory of universal expansion in the face of persistent doubt, contrary theories, and calamitous world events. The evolution of this dynamic duo's tenuous friendship and professional partnership is in many ways as intriguing as their groundbreaking work on the evolution of the universe. The book therefore traces their lives from their childhoods into their burgeoning careers, revealing how a World War and their own personal differences stood in the way of initial cooperation. It then shows how despite all this, the two opposites eventually came together in the pursuit of something far greater than themselves. This grand story is inextricably interwoven with that of Albert Einstein, Willem de Sitter, and other great physicists of the era, all of whom took part in the staggering quest to make sense of the Big Bang and what followed. "Edwin Hubble has often been considered as an island of sorts--a lone wolf of astronomy. But Voller's book shows otherwise, as he examines Milt Humason's essential contributions to our understanding of the expanding universe." - Daniel Lewis, Dibner Senior Curator, History of Science & Technology, The Huntington Library
