Edwin Hubble was an American astronomer and cosmologist who made significant contributions to the understanding of the universe and our place in it. Born in Missouri in 1889, Hubble showed an early interest in science and went on to study at the University of Chicago, where he earned a degree in mathematics and astronomy.
After completing his studies, Hubble worked at the Mount Wilson Observatory in California, where he made some of the most important discoveries in the history of astronomy. Using data collected from the observatory’s 100-inch telescope, Hubble was able to show that the universe was much larger and more complex than previously thought.
One of Hubble’s most significant contributions was the discovery of the expansion of the universe. Prior to his work, it was believed that the universe was static, with all objects moving around a central point. However, through his observations of distant galaxies, Hubble was able to show that the universe was actually expanding, with galaxies moving away from each other at high speeds. This discovery helped to establish the Big Bang theory, which explains the origin and evolution of the universe.
In addition to his work on the expansion of the universe, Hubble also made important contributions to the study of the structure and composition of galaxies. He developed a system for classifying galaxies based on their shape and size, which is still in use today. He also discovered that galaxies contain a wide range of objects, including stars, planets, and black holes, and that these objects are organized into a hierarchical structure with smaller objects orbiting larger ones.
In recognition of his contributions to astronomy and cosmology, Hubble was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1953. He died in 1953 at the age of 64, but his legacy lives on through the many advances in our understanding of the universe that he helped to make possible. Today, the Hubble Space Telescope, which was launched into orbit in 1990, is named in his honor.