Hubble, Humason and the Big Bang by Ron Voller

Author:Ron Voller
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9783030821814
Publisher: Springer International Publishing

In contrast, Milton Humason’s life was becoming increasingly uncertain and untenable by the close of the fiscal year 1922 and he had probably begun to rue his decision to step away from school as a teenager in 1905 in favor of a life on the mountain. The buzz created by the building of the observatory was surely a draw, and he doubtless took part in the public observing nights that Hale and his associates offered as part of the observatory’s land lease agreement.

Whether these glimpses of the stars captured the imagination of the young Humason is lost to history. Given his family connections he was in the unique position of being able to choose whatever route he wanted to pursue. It is perhaps easiest to infer from his decisions at crucial points in his young life that his natural tendencies led him toward a more general attitude to life with a naturalist’s penchant for involving himself to the fullest extent in his surroundings. These and other attributes that would remain dormant until much later would also make great qualities for an astronomer during the first half of the 20th century.

In 1920 Humason had completed two years of what might loosely be described as an abbreviated undergraduate degree focused primarily on advanced mathematics with bits of history and humanities thrown in as they were introduced to him by various friends in and around the observatory. He had accumulated some broader experiential knowledge sets in business and management through his family and farming connections, and he was widely recognized as a serious student and a meticulous observer. He had already published his first semi-professional articles in astronomical journals prior to Hubble’s arrival and with the help of Adams, Seares, Nicholson and Merrill he was receiving his advanced education in the field. In sheer volume, Humason’s output before the end of August 1922 far exceeded Hubble’s with 16 published papers, either solo or in partnership, covering a broad range of topics and discoveries. But despite his improbable rise, the way forward remained unclear, and the window of opportunity was closing.

It is easy to imagine Humason sitting on the exposed roots of “the perch” near the 100-inch dome looking across at Mount Baldy in the spring of that year and wondering how he was ever going to find his way onto the observatory staff.

The excitement that he and Helen had felt when they arrived back on the mountain four years earlier with Billy in tow was fading like the planet Venus in the morning sky. Now, Billy was nine years old and the need to return to the valley so that he could be near to kids of his own age and attend public school was growing as fast as he was.

Thanks to contributions from the likes of William Wirt, Booker T. Washington and John Dewey, the American education system was improving in both scope and outreach. High schools were increasingly offering more rounded education and nearly two million children aged 14-17 were enrolled by 1920, a tenfold increase from 1890.

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