How did Hubble measure distance to Andromeda?

Edwin Hubble settled the debate in 1925 when he identified extragalactic Cepheid variable stars for the first time on astronomical photos of Andromeda. These were made using the 100-inch (2.5 m) Hooker telescope, and they enabled the distance of Great Andromeda Nebula to be determined.

How was the distance to Andromeda determined?

The distance to Andromeda was first determined (inaccurately) by Edwin Hubble in the late 1920’s. Hubble used a calibrated form of the Period Luminosity Relationship first discovered by Henrietta Leavitt around 1911. These stars have the peculiar property of varying in brightness in a regular or periodic fashion.

How did Hubble determine the distance to galaxies?

By taking the spectrum of a distant object, such as a galaxy, astronomers can see a shift in the lines of its spectrum and from this shift determine its velocity. Putting this velocity into the Hubble equation, they determine the distance.

How did Hubble first measure the actual distance to the Andromeda galaxy m31?

Wilson, CA, Hubble took photographs of the galaxy over many days, and discovered several Cepheid variables. By measuring their periods and their apparent brightnesses, he showed for the first time that the Andromeda Galaxy is at a great distance–more than 2 million light years!

When did Hubble measure the distance to Andromeda?

With this method, in 1923 Edwin Hubble was able to observe Cepheids in the Andromeda nebula and thus determine its distance: it was indeed an object far outside the milky way and an own galaxy!

How did Hubble prove that Andromeda was outside of the Milky Way?

To prove Andromeda existed outside the Milky Way, Hubble would need to measure how far away it was from Earth. All Hubble had to do was look for cepheid stars in Andromeda and make the appropriate calculations. Night after night, he took photographs of Andromeda with the enormous telescope, searching for cepheids.

How do they measure distance of galaxies?

Astronomers estimate the distance of nearby objects in space by using a method called stellar parallax, or trigonometric parallax. Simply put, they measure a star’s apparent movement against the background of more distant stars as Earth revolves around the sun.

How did Hubble determine that Andromeda galaxy was outside of the Milky Way?

All Hubble had to do was look for cepheid stars in Andromeda and make the appropriate calculations. Night after night, he took photographs of Andromeda with the enormous telescope, searching for cepheids. The light from V1 made it clear: Andromeda was well outside the bounds of the Milky Way.