Edwin Hubble, The Discoverer of the Big Bang UniverseThis book is the first complete account of the scientific life and work of Edwin Hubble, whose discoveries form the basis of all theories of the evolution of the universe. One of the outstanding astronomers of the twentieth century, Hubble studied the velocities or redshifts of galaxies and discovered that the universe is expanding. He convincingly proved that our galaxy is only one of countless galaxies and thus paved the way for the exploration of an immense world beyond the limits of our knowledge. The exploding universe proposed by Hubble, now termed the Big Bang, is used to explain the origin of the elements, of stars, and of galaxies. The second part of the book describes the fundamental discoveries on the nature of the universe made subsequently, and thus sets his achievements in context. Hubble's vision, particularly his efforts to help build the big telescope at Mt. Palomar, firmly established the United States as a leader in observational astronomy. Written by two prominent astronomers (Dr. Novikov is the author of Black Holes and the Universe, CUP, 1990) who have built on Hubble's work, this book is a classic of science, setting out the thrilling story of the exploding universe. |
Contents
On the threshold of great achievements | 14 |
The redshift Predecessors | 47 |
Recognition Facets of his personality | 74 |
Hopes crushed | 102 |
Hubbles work continued | 123 |
The discovery of the hot universe | 140 |
Chronology of Edwin Hubbles life and work | 168 |
183 | |
Other editions - View all
Edwin Hubble, The Discoverer of the Big Bang Universe Alexander S. Sharov,Igor D. Novikov No preview available - 2005 |
Common terms and phrases
100-inch reflector 200-inch telescope already American astronomers Andromeda nebula apparent magnitude appeared Astron Astronomical Society Astrophysical Baade billion brightest brightness Cepheids classification colleagues cosmological density of matter diffuse nebulae discovered discovery distance indicators Edwin Hubble Einstein expanding universe expansion extragalactic distances extragalactic nebulae faint fainter forces Friedmann's galactic German globular clusters gravitational Hale hot universe Hubble constant Hubble wrote Hubble's Law Humason Huxley hydrogen important instrument K-term km/s later light luminosity Lundmark Maanen mass measured microwave background Milky motion Mount Palomar Mount Wilson Contr Mount Wilson Observatory novae objects observations obtained outstanding Pacific paper parsec particles Penzias photographs physical plates possible problem proton Publications published quasars radial velocities radiation realised red-shift relation scientists Shapley Sitter Slipher space spectra spectrum spiral nebulae stellar magnitudes stellar systems supernova theory Triangulum nebula vacuum-like variable stars Virgo Virgo cluster Wirtz