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EXERCISE 12

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motion: TOC for Knowledge Concepts, Exercises, and Solutions



In 1931, Edwin Hubble and Milton Humason published measurements
of the distances and velocities of galaxies as far as they could go
with the largest telescope in the world at that time (the Mt. Wilson
100-inch reflector).  Below is a representative sampling of their results:

GALAXY NAME  VELOCITY     DISTANCE
-----------  --------     --------

NGC 4472       850 km/s    1.8 Mpc
NGC 3193      1300         2.2
NGC 6824      3440         4.2
NGC 7619      3800         7.3
NGC  384      4500         7.0
NGC 2563      4800         9.0
NGC 1277      5200        11.0
NGC 4853      7600        13.8
Baade 24     11700        22.0
Leo 1        19700        32.0

From these data, calculate the Hubble constant (H).  There are random
and systematic errors involved, so H for each galaxy will be different;
but there should be a median or mean value that you should select - be
sure to justify the value you choose.  Estimate the random error of the
result, and discuss possible systematic errors.