HUBBLE turns 21

Today's A-Z Challenge ~ "H" is for Hubble.

Credit: NASA

We've come a long way from when Galileo pointed his telescope at the stars in 1610. On April 24, 1990, the Hubble became the first major optical telescope positioned in space.  Twenty-one years later Hubble is still going strong.

Named after America astronomer Edwin Hubble, the Hubble's current mission is gathering data on the nature of dark energy. According to the NASA website,

"Every decrease in uncertainty of the universe’s expansion rate helps solidify our understanding of its cosmic ingredients. Knowing the precise value of the universe's expansion rate further restricts the range of dark energy's strength and helps astronomers tighten up their estimates of other cosmic properties, including the universe's shape and its roster of neutrinos, or ghostly particles, that filled the early universe."

Image  Credit: NASA

  
"We are using the new camera on Hubble like a policeman’s radar gun to catch the universe
speeding," Riess said. "It looks more like it's dark energy that’s pressing on the gas pedal."    
                                                           


 Here are some of the spectacular sights that Hubble has shown us from it's unobstructed view of the universe.

Credit: NASA, ESA, STScI, J. Hester and P. Scowen (Arizona State University)

Credit: Dr. Christopher Burrows, ESA/STScI and NASA

Credit: NASA, ESA, and R. Massey (California Institute of Technology)

Credit: NASA

Visit HUBBLESITE for more spectacular photos, interesting facts about the design of the Hubble telescope and the contributions it has made to our understanding of our world and beyond. Also, please consider contacting your Congressmen and Senators to express support in our nation's Space Program.