Birth of Edwin Powell Hubble
Edwin Powell Hubble is born in Marshfield, Missouri.
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Edwin Powell Hubble Biography and Timeline
Follow Edwin Powell Hubble through 81 dated historical records for United States of America.
Edwin Powell Hubble, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
81Distinct records
1 of 3Page
1889–1931Years on this page
1889
1914
Return to Postgraduate Astronomy
Edwin Hubble returns to the University of Chicago for postgraduate work in astronomy, beginning the research path that leads to his doctorate and a career in observational cosmology.
1916
Changes in the Form of NGC 2261
Hubble reports observed structural changes in NGC 2261 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, adding evidence that the visible form of the nebula changes with time.
Study of the Variable Nebula NGC 2261
Hubble publishes a detailed study of the variable nebula NGC 2261, documenting changes in its appearance and establishing the object as an important example of a nebula with observable variability.
Twelve Faint Stars with Sensible Proper Motions
Hubble publishes measurements of twelve faint stars with detectable proper motions in the Astronomical Journal, contributing early astrometric work before his later concentration on nebulae.
1917
Doctorate in Astronomy
Edwin Hubble completes his doctoral work in astronomy at the University of Chicago after research at Yerkes Observatory, with faint nebulae forming the central subject of his dissertation.
Invitation to Mount Wilson Observatory
George Ellery Hale invites Edwin Hubble to join the staff of Mount Wilson Observatory, offering him access to the observatory that would later support his major extragalactic discoveries.
Recent Changes in the Variable Nebula NGC 2261
Hubble follows his earlier work on NGC 2261 with a new Astrophysical Journal report describing additional changes in the variable nebula's visible structure.
1919
Joins Mount Wilson Observatory
After returning from military service, Edwin Hubble goes to Pasadena and joins Mount Wilson Observatory, where the 100-inch Hooker telescope gives him exceptional reach for studying nebulae and galaxies.
1920
Colour of the Nebulous Stars
Edwin Hubble and Frederick H. Seares publish a study of the colours of nebulous stars, using photometric evidence to investigate stars associated with nebular material.
Photographic Investigations of Faint Nebulae
Hubble's doctoral research is published as Photographic Investigations of Faint Nebulae in the Publications of the Yerkes Observatory, presenting his systematic photographic study of faint nebular objects.
Planetary Nebula IC 2003
Hubble publishes an observational note on the planetary nebula IC 2003, adding a focused study of a compact nebular object to his early Mount Wilson research.
Spectrum of NGC 1499
Hubble publishes a spectroscopic study of NGC 1499 in Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, extending his early investigations of emission and reflection nebulae.
Twelve New Variable Stars
Hubble reports twelve newly identified variable stars in Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, broadening the observational record of stellar variability.
1921
Twelve New Planetary Nebulae
Hubble publishes the identification of twelve new planetary nebulae, expanding the catalogue of known compact gaseous nebulae available for further spectroscopic and structural study.
1922
Diffuse Galactic Nebulae
Hubble publishes studies of diffuse galactic nebulae, establishing the association between many such nebulae and the stars responsible for their illumination.
Nova Z Centauri and NGC 5253
Edwin Hubble and Knut Lundmark publish a note linking the historical Nova Z Centauri of 1895 with NGC 5253, contributing to the study of novae observed in external stellar systems.
Source of Luminosity in Galactic Nebulae
Hubble publishes an extensive investigation of the source of luminosity in galactic nebulae, examining the relationship between nebular brightness and nearby illuminating stars.
1923
Cepheid Variable in Andromeda
Hubble identifies a Cepheid variable in the Andromeda Nebula, providing a crucial distance indicator for establishing that Andromeda lies beyond the Milky Way.
Density Distribution in Elliptical Nebulae
Hubble reports measurements of the density distribution in photographic images of elliptical nebulae, an early step toward quantitative analysis of the light profiles of extragalactic systems.
Messier 87 and Belanowsky's Nova
Hubble publishes a study of Messier 87 and the nova reported by Belanowsky, examining an eruptive stellar event associated with the giant elliptical system.
1924
Andromeda Beyond the Milky Way
Using Cepheid variables in Andromeda, Hubble derives a distance large enough to establish that Andromeda is an independent galaxy outside the Milky Way, helping settle the island-universe debate.
1925
Extragalactic Nature of Spiral Nebulae
Hubble's results on Cepheid variables in spiral nebulae are formally presented at a joint meeting of the American Astronomical Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
NGC 6822 as a Remote Stellar System
Hubble publishes his major study of NGC 6822, resolving stellar populations and using variable stars to demonstrate that the object is a remote stellar system beyond the Milky Way.
1926
Classification of Galaxies
Hubble publishes his morphological classification of extragalactic nebulae, including elliptical, normal spiral, barred spiral and irregular systems, forming the basis of the Hubble sequence.
Dimensions and Distribution of Non-Galactic Nebulae
Hubble presents work on the classification, apparent dimensions, absolute dimensions and spatial distribution of non-galactic nebulae, extending his statistical description of the external universe.
Messier 33 as a Stellar System
Hubble publishes a detailed analysis of Messier 33 as a stellar system, using resolved stars and distance indicators to strengthen the case that spiral nebulae are independent galaxies.
1927
Election to the National Academy of Sciences
Edwin Hubble is elected to the United States National Academy of Sciences in recognition of his rapidly growing contributions to observational astronomy and the study of extragalactic systems.
Exploring Depths of Space
Hubble contributes an article titled Exploring Depths of Space to the Carnegie Institution news service, describing how large telescopes and extragalactic observations were extending the measurable universe.
Nebulous Envelope Around Nova Aquilae No. 3
Edwin Hubble and John Charles Duncan publish observations of the nebulous envelope around Nova Aquilae No. 3, documenting extended material associated with the famous 1918 nova.
1928
Novae or Temporary Stars
Hubble publishes an Astronomical Society of the Pacific leaflet on novae, explaining the observational importance of temporary stars for the study of stellar systems and external nebulae.
1929
Messier 31 as a Stellar System
Hubble publishes his extensive Astrophysical Journal study of Messier 31 as a stellar system, analysing its resolved stars, variables and structure as an external galaxy.
On the Curvature of Space
Hubble publishes a short Carnegie Institution article on the curvature of space, relating extragalactic observations to questions about the geometry and scale of the universe.
Preliminary Estimate of the Coma Cluster
Hubble publishes a preliminary estimate of the Coma cluster of nebulae in Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, extending his quantitative work to a rich galaxy cluster.
The Exploration of Space
Hubble publishes The Exploration of Space in Harper's Monthly Magazine, explaining to a broad audience how observations of nebulae were transforming knowledge of the universe beyond the Milky Way.
The Structure of the Universe - A Clue
Hubble writes The Structure of the Universe - A Clue for the Carnegie Institution news service, presenting contemporary observational evidence about the large-scale organisation of galaxies.
Velocity-Distance Relation
Hubble publishes observational evidence for a roughly linear relation between the distances of external galaxies and their radial velocities. The relation is now commonly called the Hubble-Lemaitre law.
1930
Luminosity Distribution in Elliptical Nebulae
Hubble publishes a detailed study of the distribution of luminosity in elliptical nebulae, providing quantitative surface-brightness measurements for systems whose internal structure is not dominated by spiral arms.
1931
Distribution of Nebulae
Hubble publishes a concise report on the distribution of nebulae in Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, continuing his statistical mapping of extragalactic systems.
Velocity-Distance Relation
Edwin Hubble and Milton L. Humason extend the observed velocity-distance relation to substantially more distant galaxies using new radial-velocity measurements.
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.