Biography of

Edwin Hubble

astronomy, telescope

Edwin Powell Hubble was one of the most prestigious astronomers of all time.

Edwin Hubble is one of the most famous and prestigious representatives that astronomy has had during the 20th century . This scientist from the United States remained in history for research that gave rise to the so-called Hubble law , as well as being identified as the main promoter of observational cosmology as a result of his studies and findings about the universe .

Given the magnitude of his figure and his valuable contributions in astronomical matters , the surname of this expert who was born on November 20, 1889 and died at the end of September 1953 appears in multiple notions associated with galaxies , the universe and its expansion, among them the Hubble constant (also cataloged as the Hubble parameter ) and the Hubble sequence . It is also interesting to mention the existence of the Hubble telescope and images called Hubble Deep Field , Hubble Ultra Deep Field and Hubble Extremely Deep Field .

It is necessary and enriching for all generations to know who Edwin Powell Hubble was and what contributions he made. That is why below we will review his experiences, his training and the reach that this astronomer has achieved in order to allow more and more people to discover or remember the legacy of someone who had a degree in science , completed a master's degree after studying law , literature and Spanish language and obtained a doctorate in astronomy .

Edwin Hubble's educational background

The North American city of Marshfield witnessed the birth of Edwin , one of the children of the couple formed by Virginia Lee James and John Powell Hubble . In 1900, the family group settled in a town in the state of Illinois .

Records indicate that astronomy seduced him from an early age and that he was a diligent student, although as a young man he stood out more for his sporting skills than for his academic achievements. Athletics , football , basketball and baseball were the disciplines that captivated him, and saw him shine, both during his time as a high school student and during his university period.

In 1910 , this American who had the opportunity to study at the University of Chicago (where he trained especially in astronomy , philosophy and mathematics ) obtained a bachelor's degree in science.

It has also been noted that Edwin joined a fraternity called Kappa Sigma and that he gained experience in the laboratory of the American experimental physicist Robert Millikan . Nor should we lose sight of his time at The Queen's College ( Oxford ) supported by a Rhodes scholarship . There he acquired knowledge of the Spanish language , literature and Law . A master's degree added prestige to his profile, which was further strengthened when, in 1921 , Hubble earned a doctorate in astronomy .

Hubble space telescope

The Hubble Space Telescope is a great resource for obtaining information, for example, about Jupiter's Great Red Spot and a dwarf galaxy whose appearance resembles the appearance of a drop.

Work experiences

Edwin Hubble 's work experience was extensive and varied. It has emerged that at New Albany High School , in addition to teaching mathematics , physics and Spanish , he coached the men's basketball team.

This astronomy specialist whose thesis focused on faint nebulae shared work with his colleague Milton Humason at the Mount Wilson Observatory . He even had the honor of being the first scientist to use the Hale telescope at the Palomar astronomical observatory .

Hubble , setting his sights on a proposal by Georges Lemaître regarding the expansion of the universe , selected distant galaxies and measured their redshift . Thanks to these observations, he managed to give content to the postulate that is known today as the Hubble-Lemaître law .

To add another piece of information, we owe it to him to change the name of Andromeda , since he recognized stars in it, which was no longer designated as the Andromeda Nebula and was now considered a galaxy . Edwin was the one who even spotted the asteroid (1373) Cincinnati . The discovery of this celestial body that makes up the asteroid belt occurred in August 1935 from the Mount Wilson observatory .

Andromeda Galaxy

Thanks to Hubble research, it was proven that Andromeda is a galaxy, not a nebula as was once believed.

Over the years, books, documentaries and films have come to light that echo the figure and/or legacy of Edwin Hubble , author of "The realm of the nebulae" , to indicate a specific reference. There are also many articles that give an account of his life and work, noting only his most important announcements but also more personal aspects, such as his marriage to Grace Lillian Burke (who, upon becoming a widow, donated to the Huntington Library in San Marino's private correspondence, documentation and photographs of the astronomer) , his health problems or the cause of his death, .

"Hubble 3D", «Hubble's journey through the cosmos»y«Edwin Hubble the discoverer of the Big Bang universe» son algunos materiales que le dan visibilidad, de una u otra manera, al rol fundamental que tuvo el citado astrónomo y el poder de influencia que ha alcanzado. Es útil agregar que, en memoria de este gran scientist que mereció reconocimientos como la Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society y el Newcomb Cleveland Prize, se identificó con su apellido a un asteroid y a un lunar crater.