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Starwatch: Happy 25th birthday, Hubble Starwatch: Happy 25th birthday, Hubble
(10 days later)
This month marks the 25th anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope, whose data has revolutionised the field of astrophysics, and captivated scientists and the public alike. Built by NASA with contributions from ESA, the telescope has a primary mirror (its eye) of 2.4 metres and orbits Earth at an altitude of 340 miles. Travelling at a speed of 17,500 mph it has covered a distance equivalent to a trip to Neptune, the furthermost planet in our solar system.This month marks the 25th anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope, whose data has revolutionised the field of astrophysics, and captivated scientists and the public alike. Built by NASA with contributions from ESA, the telescope has a primary mirror (its eye) of 2.4 metres and orbits Earth at an altitude of 340 miles. Travelling at a speed of 17,500 mph it has covered a distance equivalent to a trip to Neptune, the furthermost planet in our solar system.
The telescope was named after American astronomer Edwin Hubble who used a 2.5 metre telescope on Mount Wilson in California to make observations of distant galaxies. His results showed that the universe was expanding, overturning scientists’ expectations and eventually leading to the Big Bang model for the birth of the Universe. The telescope has made over 1m observations out to a distance of 13.4 billion light-years.The telescope was named after American astronomer Edwin Hubble who used a 2.5 metre telescope on Mount Wilson in California to make observations of distant galaxies. His results showed that the universe was expanding, overturning scientists’ expectations and eventually leading to the Big Bang model for the birth of the Universe. The telescope has made over 1m observations out to a distance of 13.4 billion light-years.
The first images relayed back to Earth were disappointing: the main mirror suffered from a distortion called spherical aberration. This flaw was equivalent to 1/50th of the thickness of a sheet of paper, enough to cause significant blurring in all of the images. Corrective optics were inserted by NASA astronauts in December 1993, and with its new glasses Hubble was able to return spectacular images of the universe.The first images relayed back to Earth were disappointing: the main mirror suffered from a distortion called spherical aberration. This flaw was equivalent to 1/50th of the thickness of a sheet of paper, enough to cause significant blurring in all of the images. Corrective optics were inserted by NASA astronauts in December 1993, and with its new glasses Hubble was able to return spectacular images of the universe.
The cumulative cost of constructing, launching and running Hubble has reached $10 billion (£6.7 billion) but the telescope has achieved so much more than initially expected. It’s given us a breathtaking photo album of young and dying stars and their associated nebulae; of vast spiral galaxies similar to our own Milky Way and irregular galaxies disrupted as a result of recent mergers.The cumulative cost of constructing, launching and running Hubble has reached $10 billion (£6.7 billion) but the telescope has achieved so much more than initially expected. It’s given us a breathtaking photo album of young and dying stars and their associated nebulae; of vast spiral galaxies similar to our own Milky Way and irregular galaxies disrupted as a result of recent mergers.
In 1994 Hubble witnessed a rare cometary impact, taking snapshots of a huge plume of debris left behind Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 after its collision with Jupiter. Beyond the solar system scientists have made important discoveries of the atmospheres of planets orbiting other stars – Hubble showed there were sodium, carbon, oxygen and methane gases around these alien worlds. It also took the first optical image of a planet three times larger than Jupiter orbiting the star Fomalhaut.In 1994 Hubble witnessed a rare cometary impact, taking snapshots of a huge plume of debris left behind Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 after its collision with Jupiter. Beyond the solar system scientists have made important discoveries of the atmospheres of planets orbiting other stars – Hubble showed there were sodium, carbon, oxygen and methane gases around these alien worlds. It also took the first optical image of a planet three times larger than Jupiter orbiting the star Fomalhaut.
Further afield Hubble revealed that quasars – highly luminous but very distant objects – are actually galaxies powered by the strong gravitational effects of a hungry, central supermassive black hole. Observations of supernovae (distant exploding stars) showed the universe was larger than expected, baffling cosmologists. The theory of dark energy, an exotic anti-gravity agent, was born in 1998.Further afield Hubble revealed that quasars – highly luminous but very distant objects – are actually galaxies powered by the strong gravitational effects of a hungry, central supermassive black hole. Observations of supernovae (distant exploding stars) showed the universe was larger than expected, baffling cosmologists. The theory of dark energy, an exotic anti-gravity agent, was born in 1998.
Hubble data helped pin down an age for the universe, now known to be 13.8 billion years, roughly three times the age of Earth. Astronomers received an extraordinary Christmas present in December 1995 in the form of a 10-day exposure of a tiny patch of sky that revealed 3,000 distant primordial galaxies, the famous Hubble Deep Field.Hubble data helped pin down an age for the universe, now known to be 13.8 billion years, roughly three times the age of Earth. Astronomers received an extraordinary Christmas present in December 1995 in the form of a 10-day exposure of a tiny patch of sky that revealed 3,000 distant primordial galaxies, the famous Hubble Deep Field.
Hubble’s successor is set to be the James Webb Space Telescope, currently under construction and due for launch in 2018. The telescope will detect infrared light, allowing astronomers to peer through thick clouds of dust and see hidden celestial objects. Until then Hubble will continue to enthral and delight us for years to come.Hubble’s successor is set to be the James Webb Space Telescope, currently under construction and due for launch in 2018. The telescope will detect infrared light, allowing astronomers to peer through thick clouds of dust and see hidden celestial objects. Until then Hubble will continue to enthral and delight us for years to come.
In the meantime, until the 24th of April, Guardian readers can access the Bradford Robotic Telecscope for free to look at objects that feature prominently in the sky. To use the telescope yourself, just click here and register for free observing.