Big Picture
THIRTY YEARS AGO the Hubble Space Telescope was launched, on 24 April 1990, into space aboard the space shuttle Discovery from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA. It was deployed into orbit a day later by the shuttle’s five-person crew, opening a historic new window to the universe that has revolutionised knowledge and understanding of outer space for professional astronomers and scientists as well as the general public.
Hubble’s stunning celestial images have helped make astronomy engaging, accessible and relevant. According to NASA’s associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate, Dr Thomas Zurbuchen, the space telescope’s iconic imagery has redefined our view of the universe and our place in time and space. “Hubble has given us stunning insights about the universe, from nearby planets to the farthest galaxies we have seen so far,” he says.“It was revolutionary to launch such a large telescope 30 years ago, and this astronomy powerhouse is still delivering revolutionary science today. Its spectacular images have captured the imagination for decades, and will continue to inspire humanity for years to come.”
A joint project between NASA and the European Space Agency, the Hubble Telescope is managed by the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, in the USA. Operating beyond the obscuring effects of Earth’s atmosphere, the telescope captures the universe with crystal clarity across a broad range of wavelengths, from ultraviolet to nearinfrared light. It has measured the expansion and acceleration rate of the universe, discovered that black holes are common among galaxies, monitored weather on planets across our solar system and documented the birth of stars and galaxies.
The aptly named Pillars of Creation featured in this famous Hubble image are part of an active star-forming region within the Eagle nebula and hide newborn stars in their wispy columns.The pillars are bathed in the scorching ultraviolet light from a cluster of young stars located just outside the frame. The winds from these stars are slowly eroding the towers of gas and dust.With an apparent magnitude of 6, the Eagle Nebula can be spotted through a small telescope and is best viewed during July.