Deciphering The Vast Scale of the Universe | STELLAR
Summary
This episode explores how Edwin Hubble’s 1924 discovery of Cepheid variables in Andromeda proved the existence of galaxies beyond the Milky Way, fundamentally expanding our view of the cosmos. The narrative traces this breakthrough from the Mount Wilson Observatory to the Hayden Planetarium, where a digital journey illustrates the vast scale of the modern universe, including the cosmic web and distant quasars.
Topics discussed
Sponsors: Indeed and USAA Auto Insurance
Introduction: The scale of the universe
Mount Wilson Observatory and Hubble's discovery
The Great Debate: Nebulae vs. Island Universes
The challenge of measuring astronomical distances
Henrietta Leavitt and Cepheid variable stars
Hubble measures Andromeda's distance
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The expanding universe and the Big Bang
Hayden Planetarium digital universe tour
Zooming out: Milky Way and Local Group
Laniakea and the cosmic web structure
Quasars, black holes, and modern observatories
Conclusion: Future exploration of space-time
Sponsors: Draper, It's OK to be Smart, PBS Summer of Space
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