Hubble Law Distance Calculator
Calculate cosmic distances and recession velocities using Hubble's Law
Hubble's Law Calculator
Hubble's Law
Recession velocity equals Hubble constant times distance
Distance to the galaxy or cosmic object
Current expansion rate of the universe
Hubble Law Results
Hubble's Law: v = H₀ × D = 70.3 × 0.00 = 0.00 km/s
Age at emission: ~13.80 billion years ago
Cosmological Analysis
Distance Scale
• Local Group: < 3 Mpc
• Nearby clusters: 10-100 Mpc
• Distant galaxies: 100-1000 Mpc
• Observable limit: ~14,000 Mpc
Velocity Regimes
• Non-relativistic: v < 0.1c
• Mildly relativistic: 0.1c - 0.5c
• Highly relativistic: v > 0.5c
• Horizon: v → c
Hubble Tension
The "Hubble tension" refers to the disagreement between H₀ measurements from the early universe (CMB: 67.7 km/s/Mpc) and late universe (Cepheids: 73.4 km/s/Mpc). This 5σ discrepancy may indicate new physics beyond the standard model of cosmology.
Distance Conversions
Velocity Conversions
Key Concepts
Universe Expansion
Space itself is expanding, carrying galaxies away
Redshift
Light wavelength increases due to expansion
Lookback Time
We see distant objects as they were in the past
Standard Candles
Objects with known luminosity for distance measurement
Understanding Hubble's Law
What is Hubble's Law?
Hubble's Law describes the relationship between the distance to a galaxy and its recession velocity. It states that the farther a galaxy is from us, the faster it appears to be moving away. This observation led to our understanding that the universe is expanding.
The Discovery
- •Edwin Hubble and Milton Humason (1929)
- •Used Cepheid variables to measure distances
- •Observed redshift in galaxy spectra
- •Established the velocity-distance relationship
Modern Measurements
Early Universe (CMB)
H₀ = 67.7 ± 0.4 km/s/Mpc from Planck satellite observations of the cosmic microwave background, assuming standard ΛCDM cosmology.
Late Universe (SH0ES)
H₀ = 73.4 ± 1.4 km/s/Mpc from Cepheid variables and Type Ia supernovae in the local universe, independent of cosmological assumptions.
Implications and Applications
Age of Universe
The Hubble constant helps determine the age of the universe. A higher H₀ implies a younger universe, while a lower H₀ suggests an older universe.
Dark Energy
Precise measurements of H₀ constrain models of dark energy and help us understand the accelerating expansion of the universe discovered in 1998.
New Physics
The Hubble tension may indicate new physics beyond the standard model, such as additional relativistic particles or modifications to gravity.