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Washington: Now celebrating 30 years of astonishing discoveries, the Hubble Space Telescope has produced 1.4 million observations and provided data that astronomers around the world have used to write more than 17,000 peer-reviewed scientific publications, making it at the most prolific space observatory in history. NASA said.
Thirty years ago, on April 24, 1990, Hubble was transported from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard the space shuttle Discovery, along with a crew of five astronauts.
Deployed into Earth’s orbit a day later, the telescope opened a new eye on the cosmos that has been transformative for our civilization.
A project of international cooperation between NASA and ESA (European Space Agency), Hubble’s main achievements include measuring the rate of expansion and acceleration of the universe and discovering that black holes are common among galaxies.
Characterize the atmospheres of the planets around other stars; monitor climate changes on planets in our solar system; and looking back in time at 97 percent of the universe to narrate the birth and evolution of stars and galaxies are some of his other main achievements.
Unlike any previous space telescope, Hubble made astronomy relevant, attractive, and accessible to people of all ages.
Iconic images from the space telescope have redefined our view of the universe and our place in time and space.
“Hubble has provided us with amazing information about the universe, from nearby planets to the most distant galaxies we’ve seen so far,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate science administrator at NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C.
“It was revolutionary to launch such a large telescope 30 years ago, and this astronomy powerhouse is still offering revolutionary science today. Her spectacular images have captured the imagination for decades and will continue to inspire humanity for years to come. ”
Unhindered by Earth’s blurry atmosphere, the space observatory reveals the universe with unprecedented crystal clarity over a wide range of wavelengths, from ultraviolet light to near-infrared light, NASA said.
Hubble’s longevity can be attributed to five space shuttle service missions, from 1993 to 2009, in which astronauts upgraded the telescope with advanced instruments, new electronic devices, and orbiting repairs.
The observatory, with its array of cameras and other instruments, is expected to remain operational throughout the 2020s, in synergy with the upcoming James Webb space telescope, NASA said.
On April 24, Hubble celebrated its thirtieth year in orbit by presenting a never-before-seen view of two beautiful nebulae named NGC 2020 and NGC 2014.
The giant red nebula (NGC 2014) and its smallest blue neighbor (NGC 2020) are part of a vast star-forming region in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way galaxy, located 163,000 light-years away.
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