Georges Lemaitre and Stiglers Law of Eponymy

TL;DR

This paper discusses Georges Lemaitre's pioneering work on the expanding universe, highlighting how discoveries are often not named after their original discoverers, exemplified by Stigler's law of eponymy.

Contribution

It emphasizes the importance of recognizing Lemaitre's contributions and advocates for a telescope named after him to honor his role in cosmology.

Findings

Lemaitre's 1927 treatise combined theory and observation.

Stigler's law confirms discoveries are rarely named after original discoverers.

A call for a Lemaitre Telescope to honor Lemaitre's work.

Abstract

One of the greatest discoveries of modern times is that of the expanding Universe, almost invariably attributed to Hubble (1929). What is not widely known is that the original treatise by Lemaitre (1927) contained a rich fusion of both theory and of observation. Stiglers law of eponymy is yet again affirmed: no scientific discovery is named after its original discoverer (Merton, 1957). An appeal is made for a Lemaitre Telescope, to honour the discoverer of the expanding universe.