Contributions from the Mount Wilson Observatory

HUBBLE, Edwin (1889-1953). Sammelband of offprints from the Astrophysical Journal . [University of Chicago Press: 1925-1942. Offprint issues of the major astronomical papers of Edwin P. Hubble , tracing the development of modern extragalatic astronomy. Each is numbered as one of the "Contributions from the Mount Wilson Observatory," and taken together they form the documentary records of Hubble's transformation of astronomy from a universe consisting solely of the Milky Way into a universe populated by countless galaxies and undergoing cosmic expansion. This volume was compiled by William A. Baum (1924-2012), astronomer at the Mount Wilson and Palomar Observatories who worked with Edwin Hubble, Walter Baade, and Allan Sandage, and was an important member of the next generation of astronomers. The individual papers are as follows. The numbers refer to the list of Mount Wilson Contributions: No. 304 – NGC 6822, a Remote Stellar System (1925) No. 310 – A Spiral Nebula as a Stellar System, Messier 33 (1926) No. 324 – Extra-galactic Nebulae (1926) No. 376 – A Spiral Nebula as a Stellar System, Messier 31 (1929) No. 398 – Distribution of Luminosity in Elliptical Nebulae (1930) No. 426 – Apparent Velocity-Shifts in the Spectra of Faint Nebulae (1929) No. 427 – The Velocity-Distance Relation among Extragalactic Nebulae (1931) No. 452 – Nebulous Objects in M31 Provisionally Identified as Globular Clusters (1932) No. 453 – The Surface Brightness of Threshold Images (1932) No. 485 – The Distribution of Extra-Galactic Nebulae (1934) No. 514 – Angular Rotations of Spiral Nebulae (1935) No. 527 – Two Methods of Investigating the Nature of the Nebular Red-Shift (1935) No. 531 – The Apparent Radial Velocities of 100 Extra-Galactic Nebulae (1936) No. 548 – Luminosity Function of Resolved Nebulae as Indicated by Their Brightest Stars (1936) No. 549 – Luminosity Function as Indicated by Residuals in Velocity-Magnitude Relations (1936) No. 557 – Effects of Red Shifts on the Distribution of Nebulae (1936) No. 674 – The Direction of Rotation in Spiral Nebulae (1943) Especially noteworthy are Hubble's pioneering studies of NGC 6822, M31, and M33, which helped demonstrate the extragalactic nature of spiral nebulae, as well as "Extra-galactic Nebulae," introducing the classification system that remains fundamental to the study of galaxies. The collection also contains "The Velocity-Distance Relation among Extragalactic Nebulae," relating to Hubble's Law. Octavo (248 x 164mm). Comprising 17 offprints in approximately 500 pages, variously illustrated, including from photographic plates. Typed contents list. Contemporary buckram, spine lettered in gilt (light rubbing to tips).

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