The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is a large, space-based observatory launched in 1990 by NASA with the help of the European Space Agency (ESA). It orbits the Earth, avoiding the distortion and interference caused by Earth’s atmosphere. The telescope is equipped with a variety of cameras and spectrometers that can observe in multiple wavelengths of light, including visible, ultraviolet, and near-infrared.
Why is it important?
- Clear, Unobstructed Views of Space: Since Hubble is above the Earth’s atmosphere, it avoids the blurring effects of the atmosphere that ground-based telescopes experience. This allows for much sharper and more detailed images of distant objects.
- Revolutionized Our Understanding of the Universe: Hubble has provided groundbreaking observations about the structure and evolution of the universe. Its data has helped scientists determine the rate at which the universe is expanding, contributing to the discovery of dark energy. It has also played a key role in determining the age of the universe.
- Discoveries in Astrophysics and Cosmology: Hubble has made many significant contributions, such as identifying exoplanets, observing distant galaxies, studying the life cycles of stars, and measuring the expansion of the universe. The telescope’s deep field images, like the Hubble Deep Field, have revealed galaxies that are billions of light-years away.
- Public Awareness and Inspiration: Hubble’s stunning images of space, such as the Pillars of Creation and the Eagle Nebula, have sparked public interest and provided breathtaking visuals that connect humanity to the cosmos. These images are also a powerful tool for science communication.
- Support for Other Missions: Hubble has worked in tandem with other space missions, like the Chandra X-ray Observatory and the James Webb Space Telescope, to provide complementary views of the universe. This coordination expands the depth of our understanding across multiple wavelengths.