On the occasion of the 20th Anniversary of Hubble, NASA has released a new recording of the Observatory. The picture shows a huge column of gas in a hotbed of new stars, with swirling clouds of gas in front of a gleaming red and blue background. The experts drew raving comparison with a “bizarre landscape” from JRR Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” or illustration of the children’s book author Dr. Seuss. The colorful picture was taken in early February Nebula Carina Nebula in 7500 light years away.
“Hubble” is as big as a bus, but much faster. With 28,000 km / h Space Telescope orbits the Earth in 97 minutes. 20 years ago, on 24 April 1990, it was transported from the U.S. Space Shuttle “Discovery” in his 600 kilometer-high orbit and tags exposed to it. For the anniversary takes place in many places in Germany, this year’s Astronomy Day in honor of Hubble.
As the telescope in May 1990 sparked his first photo to Earth, the scientists were stunned: the picture was not only blurred, but totally useless. And all attempts to change this from the ground failed: The optics remained blind.
The company threatened to be a giant flop. The only remedy was launching a space shuttle to repair it. In December 1993, launched the “Endeavour”, and the action was successful: “Hubble,” the eye in space, could see at last.
Again, the scientists were aghast, but this time with enthusiasm. Now get pictures of unsuspected focus and reach. Hubble took pictures’ from now on the birthplaces of new stars, dissolved the borders to neighboring galaxies into individual stars and discovered large planet from alien suns.
Tremendous Gamma-ray-bursts were recorded and, indirectly, the existence of “black holes” confirmed. In July 1994, the telescope eye-witness was “when the comet” Shoemaker-Levy 9 “in embarking on the atmosphere of the planet Jupiter.
Hubble as Google Doodle today
Google has today once again running a Doodle which celebrates the 20th Anniversary of the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope. The telescope orbits Earth at a distance of 525 kilometers and takes 96 minutes for a circumnavigation.
Google bar has a total 4 photos, the Hubble has taken, linked in Google Sky. At first the picture quality by a manufacturing error of the mirror is limited.
The Hubble has been serviced a total of five missions in NASA. The last one was expected of May 2009 in. This is Hubble’s life by five to ten years to extend by the year 2013 with the James Webb Space Telescope , a successor to all be shot.