The Hubble Space Telescope
The Hubble Space Telescope is a space telescope that was launched into low Earth orbit in 1990 and remains in operation. It is one of the largest and most versatile space telescopes, renowned as a vital research tool for astronomy. Hubble features a 2.4 m mirror and observes in the ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Its location outside Earth's atmosphere allows it to capture extremely high-resolution images with substantially lower background light than ground-based telescopes. Many Hubble observations have led to breakthroughs in astrophysics, such as determining the rate of expansion of the universe. Hubble is unique as the only telescope designed to be maintained in space by astronauts, and it has been serviced and upgraded by five Space Shuttle missions.
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org: “The Hubble Space Telescope (HST or Hubble) is a space telescope that was launched into low Earth orbit in 1990 and remains in operation.”
- en.wikipedia.org: “It is one of the largest and most versatile, renowned as a vital research tool and as a public relations boon for astronomy.”
- en.wikipedia.org: “Hubble features a 2.4 m (7 ft 10 in) mirror, and its five main instruments observe in the ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.”
- en.wikipedia.org: “Hubble's orbit outside the distortion of Earth's atmosphere allows it to capture extremely high-resolution images with substantially lower background light than ground-based telescopes.”
- en.wikipedia.org: “Many Hubble observations have led to breakthroughs in astrophysics, such as determining the rate of expansion of the universe.”
- en.wikipedia.org: “Hubble is the only telescope designed to be maintained in space by astronauts.”