An astronomer claims to have measured the spectrum of a nearby galaxy and finds that the spectral lines are slightly blueshifted. This result is unreliable because it violates Hubble's law.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Hubble's law states that galaxies are generally moving away from us, leading to redshifted spectral lines. However, nearby galaxies can have blueshifted lines due to local gravitational interactions or peculiar velocities, so the result does not necessarily violate Hubble's law.

An Astronomer Claims to Have Measured the Spectrum of a Nearby