Edwin Hubble is remembered as one of the most important scientists in the history of astronomy. His life story, full of passion, curiosity, and scientific courage, continues to inspire readers across the world. This PDF book summary takes you through the major phases of his journey, from his early childhood to the discoveries that changed the way humanity sees the universe. The aim of this summary is to present his biography in simple and easy Indian English, while keeping the narrative engaging for all types of readers.
Edwin Powell Hubble was born on 20 November 1889 in Marshfield, Missouri, USA. He grew up in a family that strongly believed in education and discipline. As a young boy, Hubble showed interest in reading, sports, and science. His father wanted him to pursue a stable career in law, but Hubble himself was drawn towards the mysteries of the night sky. This conflict between expectations and passion stayed with him during his early years.
Hubble studied at the University of Chicago, where he completed his undergraduate degree in mathematics and astronomy. However, following his father’s wish, he went to Oxford University to study law as a Rhodes Scholar. Even though he performed well in law, his heart was not fully with the subject. After returning to the United States, Hubble realised that astronomy was the field where he truly belonged. This decision became the turning point of his life.
In 1917, Hubble earned his PhD in astronomy from the University of Chicago. Soon after this, he joined the Yerkes Observatory. But destiny had different plans for him. World War I was at its peak, and Hubble chose to join the U.S. Army. He served as an officer in France before returning to America to restart his scientific career.
The next major step in his life came when he joined the Mount Wilson Observatory in California. This observatory housed the world’s most powerful telescope of that time—the 100-inch Hooker Telescope. With this advanced instrument, Hubble began a series of observations that would eventually lead to revolutionary conclusions.
One of Hubble’s biggest contributions was solving the long-debated question about the nature of nebulae. During that period, scientists were unsure whether nebulae were part of the Milky Way or separate galaxies. Using the Hooker Telescope, Hubble observed Cepheid variable stars in the Andromeda Nebula. These stars helped him calculate distances with higher accuracy. In 1924, he made a shocking announcement: Andromeda was not a nebula inside our galaxy, but a separate galaxy altogether. This expanded the known size of the universe dramatically.
This discovery alone would have been enough to secure his place in history, but Hubble was far from done. While studying many galaxies, he noticed something unusual. The light from far-away galaxies appeared to be shifted towards the red end of the spectrum—a phenomenon known as redshift. After carefully studying this pattern, Hubble concluded that galaxies were moving away from each other. This meant the universe itself was expanding. In 1929, he published the famous Hubble’s Law, which explained the direct relationship between the distance of a galaxy and its speed of movement.
