HUBBLE REDSHIFT LAB REPORT

Student’s Name ___________________________

Calculating the Age of the Universe1

Purpose: In this Lab, we will be using data collected for 8 galaxies to create a plot of the Hubble
diagam. This involves the determination of the radial velocity and distance for the 8 galaxies. The
distance is determined using the standard formula relating distance to the apparent and absolute
magnitudes. The radial velocity is determined using the relation between redshift and velocity.
Before beginning the lab, watch this overview video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsL-JNCjAK0

To obtain the radial velocity of each galaxy, you will need to measure the Doppler shift of absorption
lines in the galaxy spectra. By combining this with the distance, you will be able to plot a Hubble
diagram of velocity vs. distance. The slope of the graph will be used to determine the Hubble
Parameter, from which we can make an estimate of the age of the Universe. Here is an example of a
Hubble diagram:
Figure 1: Hubble Diagram

You can see that the velocity of the galaxies (indiated on the y-axis) increases with increasing distance
(indicated on the x-axis). Hence this diagram establishes that the universe is expanding!

1 This lab exercise was developed under the direction of CLEA (Computer Lab Exercises in Astronomy) at Gettsyburg College.
The redshift is determined by measuring the observed wavelength, called obs , for the calcium H
absorption feature using the 8 galaxy spectra provided below. By comparing the observed wavelength
obs with the expected wavelength in the rest frame of a particular galaxy, called rest , you can determine
the galaxy’s redshift. Refer to the fogure below:

Figure 2: Absorption Features

Part I: Data Acquisition

The Hubble redshift lab simulates the operation of a computer-controlled spectroscope attached to the
research telescope at Gettysburg College Observatory. To make the lab easier to do, the spectra for 8
galaxies have already been collected for you, and are included on the following pages, with two spectra
per page. The name of each galaxy is listed in the lower left-hand corner, and the apparent magnitiude is
indicated in the lower right-hand corner, as indicated in the figure below,

Figure 3: Galaxy Spectrum Window

a. As you work your way through the 8 assigned galaxies, be sure to record the apparent V magnitude
for each galaxy in the blue-shaded column of the spreadsheet.

b. For each galaxy spectrum, you need to measure the observed wavelength, called obs , using a specific
feature in each galaxy’s spectrum. By comparing the observed wavelength with the expected
wavelength in the rest frame of a particular galaxy, you can determine the galaxy’s redshift. The white
vertical dashed line in each spectrum indicates the observed wavelength obs for the calcium H
absorption feature, which is the right-hand dip of the “W” shape in each spectrum. Estimate the
wavelength obs in Angstoms of this feature for each galaxy and record the values in the green-shaded
column of the associated Excel spreadsheet.

Next you need to determine how much the spectral lines are shifted in the 8 galaxy spectra provided
below. This shift in the wavelength  is indicated by the symbol . The observed wavelengths will allow
you to compute the wavelength shift which is , which is computed using the formula

∆ λ=λ obs −λrest

where obs is the observed wavelength, and rest is the rest wavelength. In the rest frame of the galaxy,
the wavelength for the calcium H features is given by rest = 3968.47 Å

In the associated Excel spreadsheet, record the observed wavelength obs for the H absorption feature
for each galaxy spectrum.

c. Based on the observed H and K feature wavelengths, you can measure how much the wavelength has
changed, and use that information to calculate the recession speed. The associated redshift, z, is
computed using the formula
∆ λ λobs −λ rest
z= =
λrest λ rest

This is the key to determining the velocity of recession for each galaxy. Record the values obtained for
the redshift z in the spreadsheet using both the H and K feature wavelengths.

Part II: Data Analysis

The lines we are particularly interested in are the H and K lines of calcium. These lines will be redshifted
to longer wavelengths depending on how fast the galaxy is receding. Stars in the same galaxy would
exhibit comparable Doppler shifts, since there is little relative difference in the speeds of the stars.
Record your results for  in the spreadsheet, obtaining two separate values based on the H and K line
positions.

a. Using the results for the redshift z, compute the recession velocity of each galaxy using the formula

v=c × z

where the c is the speed of light, which has the value c = 3 x 105 km/sec. Note that the values
obtained for the recession velocity v are auto-computed in the associated Excel spreadsheet.

b. You can use the measured apparent magnitude V to compute the distance in parsecs using the
 usual formula
D ( pc )=10 × 10(V − M )/5

For the galaxies in this lab, we will assume that the absolute magnitude M=-21.0. This is not true of
all galaxies, but it will work for the ones in this exercise. Note that the values obtained for the
distance D are auto-computed in the Excel spreadsheet.

Part III: Hubble’s Law

According to Hubble’s Law, the observed recession velocity for a distant galaxiy is proportional to its
distance. This relationship is represented by the formula
v=D × H 0

where H0 is the Hubble Constant in units of km/s/Mpc,  is the velocity (in km/s), and D is the distance
in Mpc.

You can use the data you have obtained to compute the Hubble Constant by writing

v
H 0=
D

Compute the Hubble constant H0 for each galaxy using the yellow-shaded column in the associate Excel
spreadsheet. If you’re good with Excel programming, you can easily automate this calculation.
Otherwise, you will need to do it manually.

a. Calculate the average value of the Hubble constant H0 all 8 galaxies. The average value you obtain
for the Hubble constant is H0 = ________________ in units of km/sec/Mpc (be sure to use the indicated
units)

b. Using the average value of H0 , we can estimate the age of the Universe, t0, by writing

D 1
t 0= =
v H0

What do you obtain for the age of the Universe in billions of years (in seconds and gigayears)? Be careful
to convert the time and distance units correctly. The units of H0 are km/sec/Mpc, and therefore the age
of the Universe in seconds is given by

1 Mpc 3.09 ×10 19

t 0 (sec )= ( )
H 0 km
=
H0

The age of the universe is t0 = _________________ seconds

c. Converting from seconds to years, we find that the age of the universe is t0 = ___________ years

Converting from years to gigayears (109 years), we find that the age of the universe is t0 = __________
gigayears (109 years)

Part IV: Conclusion Questions

Answer the questions below based on the data you have collected and the Hubble graph, and
document all the calculations you have carried out.

a. Which of the galaxies you looked at do you think is farthest away? Why do you think this?

b. Which do you predict is moving away with the highest velocity?

c. Based on your graph, the recession velocity for a galaxy 800 Mpc away is V = _______ (km/s)

d. Based on what you have learned today, what do you think the universe might look like in another few
billion years (how will the galaxies be distributed, etc.).

Submit this Lab Report along with the completed Excel Spreadsheet, including all calculations, and the
graph of the Hubble relation.

Here are some important values and relationships:

K calcium line rest wavelength: rest = 3933.67 Å

H calcium line rest wavelength: rest = 3968.47 Å
Absolute magnitude for center of brightest part of each galaxy MV= -21.0
Megaparsec = 106 parsec
1 parsec = 3.085678x1013 km
GALAXY SPECTRA