A Brilliant Brain

Biography

Edwin Hubble revolutionized astronomy by discovering that the universe extends far beyond the Milky Way and is continuously expanding. His groundbreaking observations at Mount Wilson Observatory fundamentally transformed our understanding of cosmic scale and laid the foundation for modern cosmology, including the Big Bang theory. His work represents one of the most profound scientific discoveries of the 20th century.

Key Facts

• Hubble discovered Cepheid variables in Andromeda, proving it was a separate galaxy outside the Milky Way
• He formulated Hubble's Law in 1929, establishing the relationship between a galaxy's distance and recession velocity
• The Hubble Space Telescope was named in his honor, becoming humanity's most iconic astronomical instrument
• He served as a Marine during World War I and was gassed in combat before becoming an astronomer
• Hubble's observations provided the first empirical evidence that the universe had a beginning, supporting the Big Bang theory