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Just want to point out that it was only about 100 years ago humans discovered that galaxies exist. Good old Edwin Hubble doing observations from Palomar in a So
by javajosh 4y ago
Just want to point out that it was only about 100 years ago humans discovered that galaxies exist. Good old Edwin Hubble doing observations from Palomar in a Southern California sky that was still good for seeing.
- spindle 4y agoI believe it was Lemaître who first discovered that! Just in case it matters.
- djmips 4y agoApparently, there was lively debate prior to it being settle by Lemaître and Hubble. I like the original name of 'island universes' https://physicsworld.com/a/shapley-curtis-and-the-island-universes-controversy/ https://physicsworld.com/a/shapley-curtis-and-the-island-uni...
- exitb 4y agoTo be clear, people have discovered galaxies earlier, but didn’t understand their true nature. Hence, the discussed galaxy was first known as “Andromeda Nebula”.
- mnw21cam 4y agoAnd anyone to anyone sailing on one of those first ships to Australia, the SMC and LMC would have been really obvious in the sky. Sure, they're only dwarf galaxies, but still.