Hubble Space Telescope Facts

Hubble space telescope completes it’s second decade in space in April 2010. Because of Hubble space telescope we’ve managed to enjoy the high quality space pictures. Without Hubble telescope it’s hard to capture some of the star clusters and other deep sky objects. Hubble telescope gives us an insight to the ancient galaxies, constellations and was also helpful for the observation of dark energy.

Why it is called as hubble ? Hubble space telescope was named after the great scientist Edwin hubble. Edwin hubble discovered that the universe is expanding and also proved that the faint blur patches as deep sky galaxies.

What type of telescope is employed in hubble ? Space telescope is installed in hubble and it allows us avoid some of the atmospheric problems that occur with other types of telescope. Hubble makes use of Cassegrain reflector in it’s optical telescope design allowing it to capture light and direct it to several science instruments. Hubble telescope managed to give us a lot of data from space and the image quality of telescope is much better than earth-bound instruments.

Hubble Space Telescope Facts:

• The hubble telescope was launched on April 25th 1990.
• Hubble space telescope is at the end of it’s lifespan and it’ll be replaced by james webb space telescope in 2013.
• The hubble’s first image was taken on May 20th,1990.
• The hubble telescope underwent maintenance during 1993, 1997 and 2009.
• The hubble telescope transmits 120 gigabytes of information each week. (This archived information will fill 18-20 DVD’s)
• The most frequent images sent by hubble telescope are of our planet earth.
• Hubble telescope images helped scientists in discovery of dark energy.
• Periodic pictures of galaxies and stars from hubble telescope helped scientists observe evolution in universe.
• Hubble telescope completes a spin around earth after 97 minutes.
• The hubble telescope orbits the earth at an altitude of 353 miles (569 km) above the surface of Earth.
• Speed of hubble around earth is about 8km per second.
• Hubble telescope is charged with the help of two solar panels.
• Weight of Hubble telescope is about 24,500 pounds.
• The hubble space telescope costs about 1.5 billion dollars at the time it was launched.
• Hubble telescope can’t observe mercury or the sun.
• Each year amateurs and professional astronomers compete for time to use hubble and only 200 gets selected from the 1000 reviewed applications.