Georges Lemaître

Georges-Henri Lemaître (July 17, 1894 – June 20, 1966) was a Belgian Roman Catholic priest and astronomer.

Related Topics:
July 17 - 1894 - June 20 - 1966 - Belgian - Roman Catholic - Priest - Astronomer

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Lemaître is credited with proposing the Big Bang theory of the origin of the universe, although he called it his 'hypothesis of the primeval atom'. He based his theory, published between 1927 and 1933, on the work of Einstein, among others, as well as ancient cosmological-philosophical traditions. Einstein, however, believed in a steady-state model of the universe.

Related Topics:
Big Bang - Universe - 1927 - 1933 - Einstein - Steady-state model

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Lemaître took cosmic rays to be the remnants of the event, although it is now known that they originate within the local galaxy.

Related Topics:
Cosmic ray - Galaxy

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He estimated the age of the universe to be between 10 and 20 billion years ago, which agrees with modern opinion.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~