To commemorate Edwin Hubble’s historic discovery of a Cepheid variable class star, V1, in the Andromeda galaxy 100 years ago, astronomers partnered with the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) to study the star. AAVSO observers tracked V1 for six months, creating a light curve that captured its rhythmic rise and fall.
This data led to the Hubble Space Telescope capturing V1 at its brightest and dimmest points. Edwin Hubble’s groundbreaking observations marked a significant milestone in understanding our universe. By measuring Cepheid variables in distant galaxies, he calculated their distances and velocities, revealing that the universe is expanding.
Hubble’s pioneering work paved the way for further exploration of the cosmos, confirming Andromeda’s distance from the Milky Way and challenging astronomers’ initial perceptions of the universe’s scale. The collaboration with AAVSO has provided a lasting legacy in astronomy, showcasing the power of interdisciplinary research and discovery.
Source: https://www.eurekalert.org/multimedia/1056493