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Scientist Exhibit

Vera Rubin

Astronomy & Astrophysics

1928 – 2016 United States

Galaxy rotation studies supplied major evidence for dark matter

Overview Institutions
Vera Rubin

Overview

About Vera Rubin

Vera Rubin studied how stars orbit within galaxies. Working with Kent Ford, she found that stars far from galactic centers moved much faster than expected from visible matter alone. The results provided powerful observational evidence that galaxies contain large amounts of unseen mass, now described as dark matter.

Scientific Contribution

Key Discovery

Galaxy rotation evidence for dark matter

Galaxy rotation-curve observations providing strong evidence for large amounts of unseen matter.

Life Timeline

Important Moments

1965

career

Joins the Carnegie Institution's Department of Terrestrial Magnetism

Rubin joined Carnegie's Department of Terrestrial Magnetism as its first woman staff scientist.

1970

publication

Publishes the Andromeda Galaxy rotation study with Kent Ford

Rubin and Kent Ford published precise measurements of Andromeda's rotation, revealing unexpectedly high orbital speeds far from its centre.

1970

discovery

Finds evidence for flat galactic rotation curves

The Andromeda observations showed that outer material was rotating much faster than visible matter alone could explain.

1980

discovery

Builds a compelling observational case for non-luminous matter

By 1980, measurements across many spiral galaxies had established a strong observational case for large amounts of unseen matter.

Places & Networks

Institutions

research institution

Carnegie Institution of Washington, Department of Terrestrial Magnetism

Washington , United States

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