The Expanding Universe: Hubble’s Legacy and Beyond

The discovery that the universe is expanding revolutionized our understanding of cosmology. In this post, we’ll explore the concept of an expanding universe and the role of the Hubble Space Telescope in uncovering this mystery.

The Discovery of the Expanding Universe

In the 1920s, Edwin Hubble observed that galaxies are moving away from us, with more distant galaxies moving faster. This observation led to the realization that the universe itself is expanding, with galaxies receding from each other over time.

Hubble’s Contribution

The Hubble Space Telescope, launched in 1990, has provided some of the most detailed images of distant galaxies, helping to refine our understanding of the rate of expansion of the universe (the Hubble constant). Hubble’s observations have also revealed the existence of dark energy, a mysterious force accelerating the expansion.

The Future of Cosmology

The James Webb Space Telescope will build upon Hubble’s legacy, offering even more detailed observations of distant galaxies and helping us probe the early universe. Together, these missions are unlocking the secrets of the cosmos.

The expanding universe remains one of the most profound discoveries in modern science.

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