At least once in your life you must have heard mention of the Hubble Space Telescope. As well as one of his stunning images I believe I've seen. And this week we celebrated the 30th anniversary of its release, given the occasion let's talk a little about it.
Content Index
Origin of your Name
The name given to the telescope is a tribute, the name comes from the astrophysicist Edwin Powell Hubble (1889-1953), responsible for demonstrating that the galaxies were moving away. Through calculations, made from the observation of light from more distant galaxies, he was also able to calculate the distance between several galaxies. One of the main missions carried out by the Telescope was to help with a precise “Hubble” constant to calculate the expansion of the universe, since the calculations prior to the project were very different, some reporting a slow expansion, others quite accelerated.
The Hubble Launch
The launch of the Hubble Telescope took place on April 24, 1990, launched into space by the space shuttle Discovery. Despite all the preparation in orbit, it was discovered that the telescope's mirror left all images blurred, leading in 1993 to a space mission to maintain the mirrors.
Making history
Within a day of its launch, it was placed in orbit and has since made history. With no one able to predict such success. With vivid, colorful images provided by Hubble by marveling and bringing audiences fascination and curiosity towards the cosmos.
In 1995 the telescope captures the iconic image of the eagle nebula, More known as Pillars of Creation. The images captured once undreamed of in the history of mankind, such images made the telescope as the most important in history, and it is still responsible for transforming astronomy into something even more relevant and accessible to the public.
Hubble's "eye" is capable of seeing ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared light and offers its wide range of discoveries through imaging and spectroscopy. The telescope observed our own solar system, and beyond. Through the clear images of Nebulae, he was able to show us how stars are born, live and die... What was once possible only by simulations made from super computers.
Hubble was responsible for revealing details of the shapes, structures and histories of galaxies, thus expanding our observable universe, documenting more than 1500 galaxies.
He was also responsible for contributing to the discovery of the existence of supermassive black holes in galactic centers. In addition to discovering some of the first galaxies born together in the universe.
Documentary Suggestion:
I leave as a recommendation for those who have a Prime Video subscription, the documentary "The Hubble Era", which through stunning images captured by the telescope in partnership with observers here on the ground, portrays some of the discoveries achieved thanks to the Telescope.
Interested in the stunning Hubble images?
Images can be downloaded by anyone in their original size from this website: spacetelescope. But in addition to the images, it is possible, by clicking on them, to obtain some information about it, from the date it was taken, its location, distance, etc.
What photo did he take on your birthday!?
NASA as a way to celebrate 30 years of the Hubble Space Telescope. He presented us with the creation of a platform where, by entering his birthday, it is possible to observe which image was taken exactly on his birthday by the telescope (website here).
Check out the Telescope's 30th anniversary special video:
