Edwin Hubble
Edwin HubbleEdwin Powell Hubble:
Great Astronomer of the 19th Century
Twinkle, twinkle little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky (Gardner 98).
Stars are a marvelous wonder to many people, that is why some people spend most of their lives wondering what is �above the world so high� (Gardner 98). These people study and map the little twinkling stars in order to get a better meaning of them; they are astronomers. Great astronomers like Edwin Hubble, Immanuel Kant, and William Huggins, never stopped valuing the beauty of the stars. While they developed great astronomical principals. One astronomer who fits this mold most is, Edwin Powell Hubble. Wondering about what was out in the universe led to the construction of the 200-in reflector telescope, the most high-powered of its day. Using this high-powered telescope he went on to prove that there were other galaxies beside the Milky Way and was able to formulate Hubble�s law, which linked the distance of galaxies to their speed. Through his work, Edwin Hubble impacted the scientific world in the twentieth century because of devotion to research, curiosity about the universe, and expertise at mapping galaxies.
Devotion is one characteristic in Hubble that allowed him to do his work so well. Whether it was devotion to his family or to his work. It started when he was just a youth; he was in a family of seven children and was expected to earn money for the family (Whitney 222).
Hubble�s devotion was mental and also physical. Hubble worked at Mount Wilson for most of his career. Here, �he spent hundreds of bone-numbing hours in the observer�s cage at Mount Wilson telescope. Anyone who has spent time in �the cage� knows what an extraordinary effort of will it can demand: total concentration, and an ability to suppress shivers in the constant chill, lest you vibrate the telescope.� (Smoot 42).
Hubble�s hard work and long hours were recognized by his fellow astronomers. The author of Wrinkles in Time, George Smoot, said, �Night after night Hubble photographed the nebulae, devoting himself to his goal so completely that he was perceived as arrogant and elitist� (44).
Unable to complete his any tasks on his own, Hubble hired an assistant. He hired Sandage. Sandage would work with Hubble and learn techniques that Hubble used to hopefully do research of his own in the future. Hubble taught Sandage how to classify galaxies so he could continue Hubble�s work. As Hubble age, he was unable to use the telescope any more. He didn�t have the strength or energy to stay in the cage for long periods of time. So, he sent Sandage to carry out tasks for him. Everyday Sandage would be given coordinates or jobs by Hubble. When Sandage was done recording he data of his work, he would go back to Hubble and give him the...
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