How do we measure the scale and age of the universe?
In short: In this interview at the Hayden Planetarium, astronomer Wendy Freedman discusses Edwin Hubble's discovery of expanding galaxies and the complex methods used to map the cosmos, from Cepheid stars to the Hubble Space Telescope.
The discussion explores the mechanics of cosmic expansion and the tools used to determine the universe's size. Freedman details the use of Cepheid stars—bright stars with predictable luminosity fluctuations—as essential distance markers. She also addresses the ongoing investigation into the Hubble constant, the rate of expansion, and whether discrepancies in current measurements might signal new physics beyond our standard cosmological model. Additionally, the conversation touches upon dark matter, dark energy, and the development of the 25-meter telescope.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Carnegie Observatories' Wendy Freedman On Hubble and Size of Universe
- Also: Wendy L. Freedman | Gruber Foundation
- Also: astrophysics.uchicago.edu — Wendy L. Freedman | Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics | The University of Chicago
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