20th Century Astronomy

20th-century astronomy saw staggering advances, transforming our understanding of the universe. Key developments included the discovery that the universe is expanding, leading to the Big Bang theory. Telescopes, both ground- and space-based like the Hubble Space Telescope, revealed galaxies, nebulae, and cosmic phenomena in unprecedented detail. The discovery of cosmic microwave background radiation confirmed the universe's origins. Astronomers also identified new objects such as black holes, pulsars, and exoplanets, expanding our knowledge of cosmic diversity. Overall, this era shifted astronomy from mainly cataloging celestial objects to understanding fundamental processes shaping the universe.