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Hubble Space Telescope
The Hubble Space Telescope, named for noted American astronomer Edwin Hubble, was built by NASA and launched into orbit aboard Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-31) in April 1990. It can observe the visual, ultraviolet, and infrared light spectrums, and is one of four space telescopes in NASA's "Great Observatories" Program.
646 Questions
When did Hubble discover that the universe was expanding?
Edwin Hubble discovered that the universe was expanding in 1929 when he observed that distant galaxies were moving away from us, as indicated by their redshift in their spectral lines. This discovery led to the formulation of Hubble's law, which describes the relationship between a galaxy's distance and its velocity of recession.
What is the file size of a hubble space telescope picture?
The Hubble Space Telescope, HST, has four cameras - three wide field (WF) cameras and one planetary camera (PC). Most images from HST is assembled from images from these four cameras, of which the PC is in the top right hand corner - that's why images from Hubble has a staggered appearance in that section of the image. Each camera uses a CCD that renders 800x800 pixels.
Is Hubble NASA most famous telescope?
Yes, the Hubble Space Telescope is one of NASA's most famous telescopes. It has provided breathtaking images of our universe, contributed to numerous scientific discoveries, and revolutionized our understanding of space.
What does hubble telescope do in the atmosphere?
The Hubble Space Telescope orbits above Earth's atmosphere, allowing it to capture clear images of distant celestial objects without atmospheric distortion. Its position in space enables it to observe galaxies, stars, and other cosmic phenomena with unparalleled clarity and precision.
Why is the James Webb space telescope so important?
The James Webb Space Telescope is important because it will enable astronomers to study the universe in greater detail than ever before, including studying the first galaxies that formed after the Big Bang, observing distant exoplanets, and exploring the origins of stars and planetary systems. Its advanced technology and capabilities will revolutionize our understanding of the cosmos.
What famous quote of Edwin Powell Hubble?
"One of the most important things [Hubble] ever said was 'Equipped with his five senses, man explores the universe around him and calls the adventure Science".
Does Edwin hubble have kids and a wife?
Yes, Edwin Hubble was married to Grace Burke Hubble. They did not have any children.
How many tons does the hubble space telescope weght?
The Hubble Space Telescope has a mass of 11,110 kilograms, or 11.11 metric tons.
Before it was launched, it weighed 108,956 newtons (24,493 pounds). It has had
no weight since April 1990, and at the present time, it still weighs nothing.
What Major discoveries did the hubble telescope find?
Many, many, many. Just a few include: Information about planets around other stars. Detailed observations of the Shoemaker-Levi comet crash into Jupiter, giving information about comets and Jupiter. Detailed distances to far away galaxies, allowing refinement of the speed that the universe expands, leading to the discovery of dark energy. Detailed observations of gravitational lensing, leading to dark matter. Discovery that ancient galaxies are different and more irregularly shaped than current galaxies.
Why does the hubble telescope generally still outperform the palomar telescope?
The Hale Telescope at Mount Palomar Observatory is much larger than the Hubble Space Telescope, but size is only one consideration among many. Mount Palomar is here on Earth, which has a thick atmosphere, and the atmosphere blocks a lot of the light - even on clear nights. And during the day, scattered sunlight prevents good astronomical observations.
More specifically, Mount Palomar is fairly close to San Diego, CA, and the city lights of San Diego cause considerable light pollution. Weather, even the typically good San Diego weather, degrades observations. Aircraft sometimes fly overhead.
The Hubble Space Telescope is in orbit. There's no atmosphere, no weather, no light pollution, and no atmospheric scattering - because it is above the atmosphere. The telescope may be smaller, but the observing conditions are MUCH better!
What is the comparison of the of the hubble telescope and mount palomar?
The Hubble Space Telescope is a space-based observatory launched in 1990, while Mount Palomar Observatory is a ground-based observatory located in California. Hubble can observe from above the Earth's atmosphere, providing clearer images in some wavelengths, while Mount Palomar has a larger mirror and can observe fainter objects in certain wavelengths but is limited by atmospheric interference. Both telescopes have contributed significantly to astronomical research and discoveries.
What was the effect of the Hubble space telescope on society?
The Hubble space telescope changed the way we look at our universe. It revolves directly above our earth it was the first telescope that took amazing pictures of far away galaxies and dust and gas figures. The Hubble telescope was created by Edwin P. Hubble.
How many centimeters is the diameter of the Hubble telescope's mirror?
The primary mirror of the HST has a diameter of 2.4 m; the secondary mirror measures 30 cm in diameter.
In what year did the Hubble space telescope go into operation?
The Hubble telescope was launched in 1990, but faulty optics limited its use until a shuttle mission made repairs in 1993. Other servicing missions improved its onboard instruments. It will be mostly superseded by the James Webb Space Telescope planned for launch around 2018.
Are there any celestial events this year of any importance?
Yes, there are several celestial events of importance this year, including meteor showers like the Perseids in August, the Geminids in December, and the solar eclipse in December. There are also various planetary conjunctions and the peak of the Leonid meteor shower in November.
Who invented the NASA Kepler Space Telescope?
The NASA Kepler Space Telescope was designed and built by Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corp. It launched in 2009 with the goal of searching for Earth-sized planets in or near the habitable zone of other stars. It was named after the renowned astronomer Johannes Kepler.
Was it worth spending all that money to make the hubble telescope?
Absolutely - most people only tend to view the science aspect of HST, and not the commercial application advancements that have been made in it's long history. Some of those you're probably familiar with, but don't realize where the development of the technology came from:
Lithium Ion Batteries - Li Ion battery technology was further funded by NASA's Goddard Space Center for the HST/ISS Pistol Grip Tool, used to service the Hubble and construct the International Space Station. Though the design is based on a standard cordless drill (Black & Decker was initially approached for a design, but declined) the power pack is a series of Li Ion cells. The PGT was one key program I was responsible for, and it was initially used in 1997 on the HST 2nd Servicing Mission. Though they still have the same problems we had back then (they tend to overheat occasionally in certain situations) they're still the rechargeable power cell of choice for the masses, and it's only been in the past few years that BD/DeWalt and other companies have started using them in their tools.
Solid State Drives / Flash Drives - SSD's and Flash Drives are a direct result of a Hubble Telescope replacement unit called the Solid State Recorder. Replacing 2 mechanical reel-reel tape drives on HST Servicing Missions 2 and 3A, SSR technology has literally changed the way digital data is stored, eliminating the need for mechanical drives.
Medical Scanning Technology - Much of the enhanced medical scanning technology you're familiar with (CRT's, MRI's, etc.) are directly related to Hubble Telescope imaging technology advancements.
Charge-Coupled Devices (CCD's) - A direct result of Hubble Telescope imaging technology, CCD's are the electronic imaging core of every modern digital camera in use today, digital imaging devices used in medical and industrial applications, as well as satellite imaging.
Composite Materials - There are many carbon and metal composite materials that were originally developed for NASA programs. All spacecraft are manufactured with lightweight composites, and the various materials have improved over the years. Everything from cars to planes have benefited from the technology.
Infrared Technology - Everything from infrared thermometers to IR cameras owes its development to technology developed for astronomical research.
There are some pics on my Supervisor bio page of the PGT and other HST systems, and the link below will direct you to the NASA Spinoff/Innovative Partnerships Program site.
Was the Hubble telescope too convave or convex?
The primary mirror had been ground too flat at the edge (by 2 µm; i.e. 1/50th of the width of human hair!), producing spherical aberration (light at the edge of the mirror is focused at a different point as the light in the center of the mirror), actually visible as flawed images.
The Cassegrain reflector (= the primary mirror) actually is a concave system.
What gives Hubble its excellent clarity its size or its position in space?
Above all the position in space, with the absence of a disturbing atmosphere, is the prime factor of the excellent pictures. This is also the reason why it was built at all. Of course, the larger the instrument the better for observations.
How many awards did Edwin Powell Hubble have?
Edwin Hubble received numerous awards throughout his career, including the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society and the Bruce Medal. He also had a comet and an asteroid named after him in recognition of his contributions to astronomy.
How does hubble communicate with earth?
HST's Science Instrument Control & Data Handling unit (SIC & DH) is the primary system for synchronizing all science instruments, data storage, and processing for transmission to NASA ground controllers.
What have scientists learn with the hubble telescope?
Scientists have used the Hubble Space Telescope to make numerous groundbreaking discoveries, including the expansion rate of the universe, the age of the universe, and the existence of supermassive black holes. Hubble has also provided detailed images of distant galaxies, nebulae, and planets within our own solar system, leading to a better understanding of the cosmos.
Why was the hubble launched in 1990?
The Hubble Space Telescope was launched in 1990 to provide unprecedented views of the universe from space, free from the distortion of Earth's atmosphere. It was designed to advance our understanding of the cosmos and revolutionize astronomy by capturing high-resolution images and data of celestial objects.
The Hubble Space Telescope was made to observe the universe from space without atmospheric interference, providing clearer and more detailed images of celestial objects. Its design allows it to capture high-resolution pictures across multiple wavelengths of light, helping scientists to study various aspects of the universe such as galaxies, stars, and planets.
What materials were used to build the Hubble Telescope?
HST is made up of many materials, but like all spacecraft/satellites, its primary housing, base structure, and instrument housings are made of a high temper Aluminum Alloy (6061-T3, etc), and in some cases Titanium. All surfaces are corrosion protected (yes, things rust in space, albeit slowly). Those materials make up the bulk of HST's structure. As it is designated a high-visibility program, its QA and Manufacturing standards for all devices is much higher than normal, approaching that of Manned Flight programs. Every solder joint, wire, wire strand, crimp, part, screw, washer, nut, etc., must be individually inspected prior to assembly, and then further inspected as a unit. From personal experience working on the HST program, I can tell you there's no room for error.
During Servicing Mission 3A, we installed a device that's an oddity in spaceflight - the NICMOS Cryocooler unit, which is a high-speed turbine cryogenic pump which pumps liquid helium through the NICMOS cooling tubes used to originally freeze its liquid nitrogen source. Devices with moving parts aren't used on satellites since they can't be repaired, and with HST it's even rarer since moving parts tend to cause vibration, something you don't want on a telescope. However, the NCS turned out to work better than expected, reviving the dead NICMOS camera.
