The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is a space telescope that was carried into orbit by the Space Shuttle Discovery in April 1990. It is named after the American astronomer Edwin Hubble. Although not the first space telescope, the Hubble is one of the largest and most versatile, and is well-known as both a vital research tool and a public relations boon for astronomy. The HST is a collaboration between NASA and the European Space Agency, and is one of NASA's Great Observatories, along with the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory, the Chandra X-ray Observatory, and the Spitzer Space Telescope.
Space telescopes were proposed as early as 1923. The Hubble was funded in the 1970s, with a proposed launch in 1983, but the project was beset by technical delays, budget problems, and the Challenger disaster. When finally launched in 1990, scientists found that the main mirror had been ground incorrectly, severely compromising the telescope's capabilities. However, after a servicing mission in 1993, the telescope was restored to its intended quality. Hubble's position outside the Earth's atmosphere allows it to take extremely sharp images with almost no background light. Hubble's Ultra Deep Field image, for instance, is the most detailed visible-light image ever made of the universe's most distant objects. Many Hubble observations have led to breakthroughs in astrophysics, such as accurately determining the rate of expansion of the universe.
The Hubble is the only telescope ever designed to be serviced in space by astronauts. To date, there have been four servicing missions. Servicing Mission 1 took place in December 1993 when Hubble's imaging flaw was corrected. Servicing missions 2, 3A, and 3B repaired various sub-systems and replaced many of the observing instruments with more modern and capable versions. However, following the 2003 Columbia Space Shuttle disaster, the fifth servicing mission was canceled on safety grounds. After spirited public discussion, NASA reconsidered this decision, and administrator Mike Griffin gave the green light for one final Hubble servicing mission. This was planned for October 2008, but in September 2008, another key component failed. The servicing mission has been postponed until May 2009 to allow this unit to be replaced as well.
The planned repairs to the Hubble should allow the telescope to function until at least 2013, when its successor, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), is due to be launched. The JWST will be far superior to Hubble for many astronomical research programs, but will only observe in infrared, so it would complement (not replace) Hubble's ability to observe in the visible and ultraviolet parts of the spectrum.
Quadruple Saturn Moon Transit Snapped By Hubble
Hubble Captures Full View of Uranus's Rings on Edge: Unannotated
Clear and Hazy Gas Layers in Uranus' Atmosphere
An Earth-Sized Storm on Saturn
Hubble Captures Full View of Uranus's Rings on Edge: Unannotated
Clear and Hazy Gas Layers in Uranus' Atmosphere
An Earth-Sized Storm on Saturn
Uranus 2003
An Arrowhead-Shaped Saturn Storm
Saturn 's Rings in Visible Light
Pluto and Its Moons: Charon, Nix, and Hydra- Unlabeled
A Dust Storm on Mars
Hubble Confirms New Moons of Pluto
Bright Clouds on Uranus
Jupiter
Saturn's Ultraviolet Aurora
Jupiter's Northern Aurora
Mars Dust Storm Brews in Hellas Basin and Northern Polar Cap
Saturn Aurora — January 28, 2004
Discovery of a Dark Auroral Oval on Saturn
Mars at 43 Million Miles From Earth
A Global Mars Map
Saturn Prior to Cassini Probe's Arrival
Uranus: 2005 (Unannotated)
Jupiter's New Red Spot - HST ACS/WFC: April 16, 2006
Saturn from 1996 to 2000
Hubble Image of M101
Galaxy NGC 3079
Spiral Galaxy NGC 4622 Spins "Backwards"
Star Cluster R136 in Nebula 30 Doradus
Warped Edge-On Galaxy ESO 510-G13
Hubble Photographs Grand Design Spiral Galaxy M81
Turbulent Cauldron of Starbirth in Galaxy Centaurus A, With Ground View (inset)
ACS Image of NGC 5866
The Heart of the Whirlpool Galaxy
Spiral Gas Disk in Active Galaxy M87
Feasting Black Hole Blows Bubbles from Galaxy NGC 4438
Gravitational Lens Captures Image of Primeval Galaxy
Galaxy Centaurus A
Trio of Galaxies Mix It Up
Star Cluster R136 in Nebula 30 Doradus
Hubble Interacting Galaxy Arp 148
Hubble/GALEX/Spitzer Composite Image of M81
Interacting Galaxy Pair Arp 87
Close Up of Ancient, White Dwarf Stars in the Milky Way Galaxy
Hubble Deep Field Image at Quarter Resolution
Spiral, Elliptical and Colliding Galaxies in the Hubble Deep Field South Image
Normal Spiral Galaxies 5 to 7 Billion Light-Years From Earth
A Gallery of 'Tadpole Galaxies'
A Distant Cluster of Galaxies
Remote Galaxy Clusters: Lost Ancestors to Our Milky Way Galaxy
Spiral Galaxy NGC 4603 With Location of Cepheids Marked
A Survey of Quasar Host Galaxies
Close Up of Ancient, White Dwarf Stars in the Milky Way Galaxy
Looking 'Underneath' Quasar HE0450-2958
Black Hole's Disk is Flooded With Ultraviolet Light
Searching for Dark Matter in a Galaxy Cluster
New Class of Cross-Shaped Gravitational Lenses for Probing Structure of the Cosmos
Gravity of Galaxy Cluster Abell 2218 Creates Giant "Lens"
Split, Distorted Light from Quasar PG1115+080 in Infrared
Dust Disk Fuels Black Hole in Giant Elliptical Galaxy NGC 4261
Spiral Gas Disk in Active Galaxy M87
The Core of the Andromeda Galaxy (M31)
Galaxy Cluster Abell 2218's "Gravitational Lens"
A Stretched Ring of Galactic Light from Quasar PG1115+080 in Infrared
Galaxy Cluster MS1054-0321
Globular Cluster M15
Black Hole in Galaxy M87 Emits Jet of High-Speed Electrons
Cosmic Evolution Survey - Dark Matter
Hubble's Top Ten Gravitational Lenses
Black Holes Unexpectedly Discovered in Globular Clusters M15 and G1
Globular Cluster M22 (inset shows entire cluster)
Nearby Galaxy Centaurus A
Interacting Spiral Galaxies NGC 2207 and IC 2163
Cosmic Evolution Survey - Visible (Baryonic) Matter
Dust Disk Around a Black Hole in Galaxy NGC 4261
Distant Galaxies of Abell 2218 Viewed Through a Cosmic Lens
Dust Disk Around a Black Hole in Galaxy NGC 7052
STIS Records a Black Hole's Signature
Ring Around a Suspected Black Hole in Galaxy NGC 4261
Nucleus of Galaxy Centaurus A
Giant Disk of Cold Gas and Dust Fuels Possible Black Hole at the Core of NGC 4261
Hubble and Chandra Composite of the Galaxy Cluster MACS J0025.4-1222
Hubble Captures a "Five-Star" Rated Gravitational Lens
Hubble Witnesses Flare-Up in Extragalactic Jet
Reddish Arcs Mark Trail of Small Asteroid
Giant Disk of Cold Gas and Dust Fuels Possible Black Hole at the Core of NGC 4261
Barred Spiral Galaxy NGC 1300
Hubble-Spitzer Color Mosaic of the Galactic Center
The Sombrero Galaxy in Infrared Light
Galaxy NGC 1512 in Visible Light
Supernova 1987A: Halo for a Vanished Star
Interacting Galaxies Group Arp 194
The Majestic Sombrero Galaxy (M104)
Dust Band Around the Nucleus of "Black Eye Galaxy" M64
Spiral Galaxy M100
Eighth Anniversary Image of Hubble's Smash Hits
Hubble Spies a Frenzy of Star Birth in Dwarf Galaxies
The Expanding Light Echo of Red Supergiant Star V838 Monocerotis
Close-Up of the Helix Nebula
Vast Star-Forming Region 30 Doradus
The Ring Nebula (M57)
V838 Monocerotis - November 2005
Cassiopeia A: Colorful, Shredded Remains of Old Supernova
Eye-Shaped Planetary Nebula NGC 6826
Iridescent Glory of Nearby Helix Nebula
The Cat's Eye Nebula's Intricate Layers
Star Cluster R136 - Wide Field/Planetary Camera
Reflection Nebula NGC 1999
Details of Supernova Remnant Cassiopeia A
The Spirograph Nebula (IC 418)
Hubble Observes Infant Stars in Nearby Galaxy
Dying Star HD 44179, the "Red Rectangle," Sculpts Rungs of Gas and Dust
SN 1006 Supernova Remnant (Hubble)
N 180B in the Large Magellanic Cloud
Cone Nebula (NGC 2264): Star-Forming Pillar of Gas and Dust
The Pistol Star: A Brilliant Star in Milky Way's Core
Infant Stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud
Hubble Snaps a Splendid Planetary Nebula
Mars -- March 10, 1997
Plume of Gas and Dust Spouts From Volcanic Eruption on Io
The Pluto System on Feb. 15, 2006 (Annotated)
Springtime on Neptune: Increased Brightness Shows Seasonal Change
Detail of Saturn's Rings, Disk and Shadow
Saturn's Rings in Ultraviolet Light
Saturn Aurora — January 24, 2004
Hubble View of Comet Tempel 1 - Before Outburst
Mars: Closest Approach 2007
Hubble/IRTF Composite Image of Jupiter Storms
An Infrared View of Saturn
Saturn's Dynamic Auroras
HST/WFPC2 Image of Jupiter and Ganymede Taken April 9, 2007
Three Moons Cast Shadows on Jupiter
Three Rings of Gas Surround Supernova 1987A
Ancient, White Dwarf Stars in the Milky Way Galaxy
Black Holes Unexpectedly Discovered in Globular Clusters M15 and G1
Globular Cluster M22 (inset shows entire cluster)
R136: A Cluster of Massive Stars in Nebula 30 Doradus
A String of 'Cosmic Pearls' Surrounds an Exploding Star
Spiral Galaxy NGC 3370, Home to Supernova Seen in 1994
Light Echo From Star V838 Monocerotis - April 30, 2002
Stellar Interlopers Caught Speeding Through Space
Hubble ACS/WFPC2 Image of Globular Cluster M13
Star Cluster NGC 290
Papillon Nebula N159-5
Supernova 1994D in Galaxy NGC 4526
Star Cluster R136 in Nebula 30 Doradus
Light Echoes From Red Supergiant Star V838 Monocerotis - December 2002
Supernova 1994D in Galaxy NGC 4526
Hubble Snaps a Splendid Planetary Nebula
Young Stars Sculpt Gas with Powerful Outflows in the Small Magellanic Cloud
Star Cluster NGC 265
Hubble Captures Full View of Uranus's Rings on Edge: Unannotated
Clear and Hazy Gas Layers in Uranus' Atmosphere
An Earth-Sized Storm on Saturn
Uranus 2003
An Arrowhead-Shaped Saturn Storm
Saturn 's Rings in Visible Light
Pluto and Its Moons: Charon, Nix, and Hydra- Unlabeled
A Dust Storm on Mars
Hubble Confirms New Moons of Pluto
Bright Clouds on Uranus
Jupiter
Saturn's Ultraviolet Aurora
Jupiter's Northern Aurora
Mars Dust Storm Brews in Hellas Basin and Northern Polar Cap
Saturn Aurora — January 28, 2004
Discovery of a Dark Auroral Oval on Saturn
Mars at 43 Million Miles From Earth
A Global Mars Map
Saturn Prior to Cassini Probe's Arrival
Uranus: 2005 (Unannotated)
Jupiter's New Red Spot - HST ACS/WFC: April 16, 2006
Saturn from 1996 to 2000
Hubble Image of M101
Galaxy NGC 3079
Spiral Galaxy NGC 4622 Spins "Backwards"
Star Cluster R136 in Nebula 30 Doradus
Warped Edge-On Galaxy ESO 510-G13
Hubble Photographs Grand Design Spiral Galaxy M81
Turbulent Cauldron of Starbirth in Galaxy Centaurus A, With Ground View (inset)
ACS Image of NGC 5866
The Heart of the Whirlpool Galaxy
Spiral Gas Disk in Active Galaxy M87
Feasting Black Hole Blows Bubbles from Galaxy NGC 4438
Gravitational Lens Captures Image of Primeval Galaxy
Galaxy Centaurus A
Trio of Galaxies Mix It Up
Star Cluster R136 in Nebula 30 Doradus
Hubble Interacting Galaxy Arp 148
Hubble/GALEX/Spitzer Composite Image of M81
Interacting Galaxy Pair Arp 87
Close Up of Ancient, White Dwarf Stars in the Milky Way Galaxy
Hubble Deep Field Image at Quarter Resolution
Spiral, Elliptical and Colliding Galaxies in the Hubble Deep Field South Image
Normal Spiral Galaxies 5 to 7 Billion Light-Years From Earth
A Gallery of 'Tadpole Galaxies'
A Distant Cluster of Galaxies
Remote Galaxy Clusters: Lost Ancestors to Our Milky Way Galaxy
Spiral Galaxy NGC 4603 With Location of Cepheids Marked
A Survey of Quasar Host Galaxies
Close Up of Ancient, White Dwarf Stars in the Milky Way Galaxy
Looking 'Underneath' Quasar HE0450-2958
Black Hole's Disk is Flooded With Ultraviolet Light
Searching for Dark Matter in a Galaxy Cluster
New Class of Cross-Shaped Gravitational Lenses for Probing Structure of the Cosmos
Gravity of Galaxy Cluster Abell 2218 Creates Giant "Lens"
Split, Distorted Light from Quasar PG1115+080 in Infrared
Dust Disk Fuels Black Hole in Giant Elliptical Galaxy NGC 4261
Spiral Gas Disk in Active Galaxy M87
The Core of the Andromeda Galaxy (M31)
Galaxy Cluster Abell 2218's "Gravitational Lens"
A Stretched Ring of Galactic Light from Quasar PG1115+080 in Infrared
Galaxy Cluster MS1054-0321
Globular Cluster M15
Black Hole in Galaxy M87 Emits Jet of High-Speed Electrons
Cosmic Evolution Survey - Dark Matter
Hubble's Top Ten Gravitational Lenses
Black Holes Unexpectedly Discovered in Globular Clusters M15 and G1
Globular Cluster M22 (inset shows entire cluster)
Nearby Galaxy Centaurus A
Interacting Spiral Galaxies NGC 2207 and IC 2163
Cosmic Evolution Survey - Visible (Baryonic) Matter
Dust Disk Around a Black Hole in Galaxy NGC 4261
Distant Galaxies of Abell 2218 Viewed Through a Cosmic Lens
Dust Disk Around a Black Hole in Galaxy NGC 7052
STIS Records a Black Hole's Signature
Ring Around a Suspected Black Hole in Galaxy NGC 4261
Nucleus of Galaxy Centaurus A
Giant Disk of Cold Gas and Dust Fuels Possible Black Hole at the Core of NGC 4261
Hubble and Chandra Composite of the Galaxy Cluster MACS J0025.4-1222
Hubble Captures a "Five-Star" Rated Gravitational Lens
Hubble Witnesses Flare-Up in Extragalactic Jet
Reddish Arcs Mark Trail of Small Asteroid
Giant Disk of Cold Gas and Dust Fuels Possible Black Hole at the Core of NGC 4261
Barred Spiral Galaxy NGC 1300
Hubble-Spitzer Color Mosaic of the Galactic Center
The Sombrero Galaxy in Infrared Light
Galaxy NGC 1512 in Visible Light
Supernova 1987A: Halo for a Vanished Star
Interacting Galaxies Group Arp 194
The Majestic Sombrero Galaxy (M104)
Dust Band Around the Nucleus of "Black Eye Galaxy" M64
Spiral Galaxy M100
Eighth Anniversary Image of Hubble's Smash Hits
Hubble Spies a Frenzy of Star Birth in Dwarf Galaxies
The Expanding Light Echo of Red Supergiant Star V838 Monocerotis
Close-Up of the Helix Nebula
Vast Star-Forming Region 30 Doradus
The Ring Nebula (M57)
V838 Monocerotis - November 2005
Cassiopeia A: Colorful, Shredded Remains of Old Supernova
Eye-Shaped Planetary Nebula NGC 6826
Iridescent Glory of Nearby Helix Nebula
The Cat's Eye Nebula's Intricate Layers
Star Cluster R136 - Wide Field/Planetary Camera
Reflection Nebula NGC 1999
Details of Supernova Remnant Cassiopeia A
The Spirograph Nebula (IC 418)
Hubble Observes Infant Stars in Nearby Galaxy
Dying Star HD 44179, the "Red Rectangle," Sculpts Rungs of Gas and Dust
SN 1006 Supernova Remnant (Hubble)
N 180B in the Large Magellanic Cloud
Cone Nebula (NGC 2264): Star-Forming Pillar of Gas and Dust
The Pistol Star: A Brilliant Star in Milky Way's Core
Infant Stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud
Hubble Snaps a Splendid Planetary Nebula
Mars -- March 10, 1997
Plume of Gas and Dust Spouts From Volcanic Eruption on Io
The Pluto System on Feb. 15, 2006 (Annotated)
Springtime on Neptune: Increased Brightness Shows Seasonal Change
Detail of Saturn's Rings, Disk and Shadow
Saturn's Rings in Ultraviolet Light
Saturn Aurora — January 24, 2004
Hubble View of Comet Tempel 1 - Before Outburst
Mars: Closest Approach 2007
Hubble/IRTF Composite Image of Jupiter Storms
An Infrared View of Saturn
Saturn's Dynamic Auroras
HST/WFPC2 Image of Jupiter and Ganymede Taken April 9, 2007
Three Moons Cast Shadows on Jupiter
Three Rings of Gas Surround Supernova 1987A
Ancient, White Dwarf Stars in the Milky Way Galaxy
Black Holes Unexpectedly Discovered in Globular Clusters M15 and G1
Globular Cluster M22 (inset shows entire cluster)
R136: A Cluster of Massive Stars in Nebula 30 Doradus
A String of 'Cosmic Pearls' Surrounds an Exploding Star
Spiral Galaxy NGC 3370, Home to Supernova Seen in 1994
Light Echo From Star V838 Monocerotis - April 30, 2002
Stellar Interlopers Caught Speeding Through Space
Hubble ACS/WFPC2 Image of Globular Cluster M13
Star Cluster NGC 290
Papillon Nebula N159-5
Supernova 1994D in Galaxy NGC 4526
Star Cluster R136 in Nebula 30 Doradus
Light Echoes From Red Supergiant Star V838 Monocerotis - December 2002
Supernova 1994D in Galaxy NGC 4526
Hubble Snaps a Splendid Planetary Nebula
Young Stars Sculpt Gas with Powerful Outflows in the Small Magellanic Cloud
Star Cluster NGC 265
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