Hubble Telescope: A Window to the Universe's Secrets

The Hubble Space Telescope: A Giant Leap for Astronomy On April 24, 1990, NASA launched the Hubble Space Telescope aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery. This event marked a pivotal moment in astronomy, as Hubble's unique position above Earth's atmosphere allowed for unprecedented clarity in observations. As Abbie Cheeseman explains in her informative video, the decision to place the telescope in space was crucial. Ground-based telescopes struggle with atmospheric distortion, blurring the light from distant objects. "The atmosphere tends to blur and distort light from really far away," Cheeseman points out. Furthermore, Hubble's ability to observe ultraviolet and infrared light, largely blocked by the Earth's atmosphere, opened new avenues of astronomical research. The telescope's initial mission was not without its challenges. A flaw in the primary mirror was discovered shortly after launch, requiring a costly and complex repair mission in 1993. However, this setback only underscored the telescope's importance. Since then, Hubble has provided breathtaking images and crucial data, revolutionizing our understanding of the universe. "They originally used to think that the universe had no age," Cheeseman notes, highlighting Hubble's role in determining the universe's age at 13.7 billion years. Hubble's ongoing contributions to astronomy are undeniable. Its observations have led to groundbreaking discoveries about black holes, our solar system, and distant galaxies. NASA's website (spacetelescopelive.org) provides real-time information about Hubble's current observations, offering a fascinating glimpse into the cosmos. The telescope continues to orbit Earth every 95 minutes, constantly expanding our knowledge of the universe.