Vesto Slipher

1875–1969 · Astronomy, astrophysics, spectroscopy

American astronomer who first measured the redshift of galaxies, which became a key step toward the discovery of the expanding Universe. His work on the spectroscopy of nebulae and stars laid the foundations of extragalactic astronomy.

Biography

Born in 1875 in Mulberry, Indiana. In 1909, he received his doctorate from Indiana University. He spent his entire career at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, becoming director in 1916. He conducted spectroscopic studies of planets, stars, and nebulae. His redshift observations later allowed Hubble to discover the expansion law. He was a recipient of the Lalande Medal and other awards.

Key discoveries

First measurement of a galaxy's redshift (Andromeda Nebula) in 1912
systematic detection of redshifts of spiral nebulae
which led to the understanding
that they are moving away from us
discovery of interstellar absorption lines of sodium and calcium
which proved the existence of the interstellar medium
pioneering studies of the spectra of planets and comets.

💡 Slipher refused his doctoral degree from Indiana University three times because he didn't want to pay the necessary fees and believed his work spoke for itself; the degree was eventually awarded to him in absentia.

"He wondered whether the velocity of the object was so great that it made one question if the shift was caused by some other reason, but admitted there was no other explanation than actual motion."

Concepts

expansion of the universe hydrogen redshift spectroscopy

Laws

Hubble's law

Scientists

Robert Hooke Johann Jakob Balmer Jocelyn Bell Burnell Arno Penzias Charles Townes James Clerk Maxwell Erwin Schrödinger Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin

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Vesto Slipher

Biography

Key discoveries

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