After returning from a tour of duty in the First World War, Hubble devised a classification system for the other galaxies he observed, sorting them out by content, distance, shape and brightness. This is when he noticed something special and was able to formulate Hubble’s Law in 1929. This law helped astronomers determine the age of the universe and prove that the universe was expanding. The Big Bang Theory (late 1920’s) grew out of Hubble’s Law.
But Hubble’s Law isn’t the only thing Edward Hubble is known for. At the Mount Wilson Observatory in Northern Los Angeles, on its 5,700-ft. peak stood the largest telescope in the world, a reflecting telescope a 100 in. wide mirror. A telescope is a device that allows for the visualization of objects by collecting electromagnetic radiation using reflecting lenses and focusing the rays on the focal plane or focal point to produce an image.
Telescopes that utilize visible light, x-rays, infrared waves, and radio waves have been made. Objects in space emit different types and amounts of electromagnetic radiation. The electromagnetic waves travel at the speed of light, 1.86 X 10^5 mi/s (3.00 X 10^5 km/s) until they are picked up by a telescope. The most common types of telescopes are reflecting and refracting telescopes that use visible light. It is important to note that this specific telescope was funded by wealthy philanthropists John D. Hooker and Andrew Carnegie. Hubble worked with George Hale to create this project. On an October night in 1923 Hubble patiently waited for the Andromeda Nebula itself. Although it is visible to the naked eye, with a telescope you can see the individual stars with in it. Hubble described it as “an elongated cigar about half the size of the full moon.”