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Astronomer · 1894 CE – 1966 CE

Georges Lemaître

History of AstronomyModern Astronomy

Biography

Georges Lemaître was a Belgian priest and physicist who, in 1927, derived an expanding universe from general relativity and estimated its rate of expansion — two years before Hubble's observations. He went further, proposing that the cosmos began from a single 'primeval atom', the idea that grew into the Big Bang theory.

Scientific contributions

  • Proposed that the universe is expanding (1927)
  • Originated the 'primeval atom' — the Big Bang concept
  • Derived the velocity–distance relation before Hubble's confirmation

Major discoveries

Theories developed

Knowledge connections

Sources & references

The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.

  • NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration

    Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.

    Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.

  • BritannicaEncyclopaedia Britannica

    General reference for the history of astronomy, biographies, and cultural context.