The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is one of the most significant and iconic space observatories ever launched. Deployed by NASA in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA), Hubble was launched aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery on April 24, 1990. It orbits Earth at an altitude of about 547 kilometers (340 miles) and has been providing groundbreaking images and data about the universe for over three decades.
Key Features and Capabilities
Hubble primarily observes in the visible light, ultraviolet (UV), and near-infrared wavelengths, allowing scientists to capture high-resolution images and conduct a broad range of studies across the electromagnetic spectrum.
The telescope is about the size of a large school bus, measuring 13.3 meters (43.5 feet) long with a 2.4-meter (7.9 feet) diameter mirror. Hubble is equipped with various instruments, including cameras and spectrometers, such as the Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3), Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS), and the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS).
Servicing and Upgrades
Hubble was designed to be serviced by astronauts, and it has undergone five servicing missions between 1993 and 2009. These missions corrected initial issues, such as the flaw in its primary mirror (fixed in the first mission in 1993), and added new instruments, keeping Hubble at the forefront of astronomical research.
Legacy and Future
Hubble’s discoveries have transformed our understanding of the universe, from uncovering the age of the universe (about 13.8 billion years) to expanding knowledge of black holes, galaxies, and the structure of the cosmos. Though its successor, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), is designed to complement and expand upon Hubble’s work, Hubble continues to operate and provide valuable data.
Scientific Contributions
Hubble Deep Field and Ultra Deep Field: These famous images are among the deepest views of the universe, revealing thousands of distant galaxies and providing insights into the early universe and galaxy formation.
Hubble helped confirm the existence of dark energy, the mysterious force driving the accelerated expansion of the universe. It has also contributed to our understanding of the distribution of dark matter by observing its gravitational effects.
Though not specifically designed for exoplanet hunting, Hubble has contributed to the study of exoplanet atmospheres, detecting water vapor, methane, and other key molecules in distant planets’ atmospheres.
Hubble has provided detailed images of star-forming regions, such as the Pillars of Creation in the Eagle Nebula, and has observed the aftermath of supernova explosions, including SN 1987A, helping scientists study stellar life cycles.
Hubble has allowed astronomers to study galaxies at various stages of evolution, from young galaxies in the early universe to well-formed spiral galaxies like our Milky Way. These observations help scientists understand how galaxies grow and change over time.
