The Hubble Space Telescope
The Hubble Space Telescope is a collaboration between ESA and NASA. It's a long-term, space-based observatory. The observations are carried out in visible, infrared and ultraviolet light. In many ways Hubble has revolutionised modern astronomy,
by not only being an efficient tool for making new discoveries, but also by driving astronomical research in general.
History
When Galileo first turned a spyglass to the heavens in 1610, he had trouble making out the rings of Saturn that are visible in inexpensive telescopes today. Advances in optics improved scientists' views of the planets, stars, and distant galaxies, but Earth's atmosphere still blocked much of the light for observers on the ground. Larger telescopes were (and still are) placed on high mountains, where thinner atmospheres allow clearer pictures.
More About
The Hubble is a joint project between NASA and the European Space Agency.
Here are some basic facts about the telescope and the mission, courtesy the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI).
Telescope size
Length: 43.5 feet (13.2 meters)
Weight: 24,500 lbs. (11,110 kilograms)
Maximum diameter: 14 feet (4.2 m)
Mission:
Launch: April 24, 1990, from space shuttle Discovery (STS-31)
Deployment: April 25, 1990
Servicing Mission 1: December 1993
Servicing Mission 2: February 1997
Servicing Mission 3A: December 1999
Servicing Mission 3B: February 2002
Servicing Mission 4: May 2009
Data
Hubble transmits about 120 gigabytes of science data every week. That would be roughly 3,600 feet (1,097 meters) of books on a shelf. The collection of pictures and data is stored on magneto-optical disks.
Power
Energy source: the sun
Mechanism: Two 25-foot solar panels
Power usage: 2,800 watts
Batteries: 6 nickel-hydrogen (NiH), with a storage capacity equal to 20 car batteries.
Hubble discoveries
Hubble's elevated perspective and advanced optics allow it to peer farther away than previous ground-based optics are able to see. Because light takes time to travel long distances, the range of the HST makes it function similar to a time machine; the light it views from remote objects only reveals how that object appeared when the light left it, not how it appears today.
Thus when we look at the Andromeda galaxy, 2.5 million light-years from Earth, we see it as it was 2.5 million years ago.
The Hubble Space Telescope is a collaboration between ESA and NASA. It's a long-term, space-based observatory. The observations are carried out in visible, infrared and ultraviolet light. In many ways Hubble has revolutionised modern astronomy,
History
When Galileo first turned a spyglass to the heavens in 1610, he had trouble making out the rings of Saturn that are visible in inexpensive telescopes today. Advances in optics improved scientists' views of the planets, stars, and distant galaxies, but Earth's atmosphere still blocked much of the light for observers on the ground. Larger telescopes were (and still are) placed on high mountains, where thinner atmospheres allow clearer pictures.
More About
The Hubble is a joint project between NASA and the European Space Agency.
Telescope size
Length: 43.5 feet (13.2 meters)
Weight: 24,500 lbs. (11,110 kilograms)
Maximum diameter: 14 feet (4.2 m)
Mission:
Launch: April 24, 1990, from space shuttle Discovery (STS-31)
Deployment: April 25, 1990
Servicing Mission 1: December 1993
Servicing Mission 2: February 1997
Servicing Mission 3A: December 1999
Servicing Mission 3B: February 2002
Servicing Mission 4: May 2009
Data
Hubble transmits about 120 gigabytes of science data every week. That would be roughly 3,600 feet (1,097 meters) of books on a shelf. The collection of pictures and data is stored on magneto-optical disks.
Power
Energy source: the sun
Mechanism: Two 25-foot solar panels
Power usage: 2,800 watts
Batteries: 6 nickel-hydrogen (NiH), with a storage capacity equal to 20 car batteries.
Hubble discoveries
Hubble's elevated perspective and advanced optics allow it to peer farther away than previous ground-based optics are able to see. Because light takes time to travel long distances, the range of the HST makes it function similar to a time machine; the light it views from remote objects only reveals how that object appeared when the light left it, not how it appears today.
Thus when we look at the Andromeda galaxy, 2.5 million light-years from Earth, we see it as it was 2.5 million years ago.
Here's the some images of captured by Hubbel telescope:
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