San Diego County News

Independent publication serving San Diego County

  • Local
    • Central San Diego
    • North County
    • East County
    • South Bay
    • Northeastern
    • Temecula
  • Entertainment
    • Music
    • Television
    • Art
    • Theater
    • Film
    • Events
    • Theme Parks
    • Podcast/Radio
    • Museums
    • Books
  • Business
  • National
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Health
    • Health Business
    • Health Education
    • Medical
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Lifestyle
    • Senior Life
    • Society
  • Commentary
  • Home

NASA’s starry-eyed Hubble Telescope celebrates 20 years of discovery

April 23, 2010 By Staff

WASHINGTON–(USNewswire)–As the Hubble Space Telescope achieves the major milestone of two decades on orbit, NASA and the Space Telescope Science Institute, or STScI, in Baltimore are celebrating Hubble’s journey of exploration with a stunning new picture and several online educational activities. There are also opportunities for people to explore galaxies as armchair scientists and send personal greetings to Hubble for posterity.

NASA is releasing a new Hubble photo of a small portion of one of the largest known star-birth regions in the galaxy, the Carina Nebula. Three light-year-tall towers of cool hydrogen laced with dust rise from the wall of the nebula. The scene is reminiscent of Hubble’s classic “Pillars of Creation” photo from 1995, but even more striking.

NASA’s best-recognized, longest-lived and most prolific space observatory was launched April 24, 1990, aboard the space shuttle Discovery during the STS-31 mission. Hubble discoveries revolutionized nearly all areas of current astronomical research from planetary science to cosmology.

Trending
Man suspected of stabbing parents arrested in Vista

Over the years, Hubble has suffered broken equipment, a bleary-eyed primary mirror, and the cancellation of a planned shuttle servicing mission. But the ingenuity and dedication of Hubble scientists, engineers and NASA astronauts allowed the observatory to rebound and thrive. The telescope’s crisp vision continues to challenge scientists and the public with new discoveries and evocative images.

“Hubble is undoubtedly one of the most recognized and successful scientific projects in history,” said Ed Weiler, associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “Last year’s space shuttle servicing mission left the observatory operating at peak capacity, giving it a new beginning for scientific achievements that impact our society.”

To date, Hubble has observed more than 30,000 celestial targets and amassed more than a half-million pictures in its archive. The last astronaut servicing mission to Hubble in May 2009 made the telescope 100 times more powerful than when it was launched.

 

40

SHARES
Share on Facebook
Tweet
Follow us

Comments

comments

Filed Under: National Tagged With: National


Support Independent Journalism



Environment

EPA proposes to strengthen air quality standards

January 7, 2023 By sdcnews

Science & Technology

Little rodent, big appetite

December 22, 2022 By sdcnews

Advertisement

Start planning your Travel Tuesday getaway! Just enter code TRAVELT35 for up to $35 off our fees on flights and be ready to take off.

Trending

School Sports

Animal News

Helen Woodward Animal Center meets UN Council

December 22, 2022 By sdcnews

Community Events

Things To Do

Categories

  • About Us
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
  • Private Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Things To Do

Follow @SanCounty

Privacy Policy

Terms of service

Copyright © 2023 San Diego County News