Edwin Hubble

Edwin Hubble was an American astronomer. He was born in Marshfield, Missouri, in 1889. He proved that there are galaxies beyond our own. He also discovered that the universe is expanding.

Early Life

Hubble was a talented athlete and scholar. He studied law at first but switched to astronomy. He served in World War I. After the war, he began working at the Mount Wilson Observatory in California.

A NASA map showing the huge universe filled with galaxies.
A NASA map showing the huge universe filled with galaxies. (NASA / WMAP Science Team / Wikimedia Commons)

Big Discoveries

Hubble proved that fuzzy patches in the sky were actually entire galaxies far beyond the Milky Way. He showed that the universe is much larger than anyone imagined. He also discovered that galaxies are moving away from each other, meaning the universe is expanding.

Fun Facts

  • The Hubble Space Telescope is named after him.
  • He was a talented boxer who was once asked to turn professional.
  • He proved the universe contains billions of galaxies, not just one.

Did You Know?

Before Hubble, most scientists thought the Milky Way was the entire universe. He showed that it is just one of billions of galaxies. The Hubble Space Telescope, launched in 1990, continues his legacy.