In terms of size, it is approximately twice the size of an elephant or comparable to a regular bus. Although it has been in operation for over 30 years, it is expected to continue functioning until 2030. Named after the great scientist Edwin Hubble, who made significant contributions to astronomy, including the discovery that our universe is not limited to the Milky Way galaxy and is constantly expanding, the Hubble Telescope has helped us understand a great deal about the universe.
Now let's explore the key instruments on Hubble that enable it to fulfill its mission:
Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3): This is the main camera of Hubble, allowing it to capture clear images in ultraviolet, infrared, and visible light. It can photograph objects as close as nearby stars and as distant as those millions of light-years away.
Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS): This highly sensitive light detector breaks down ultraviolet light into parts. It is mainly used for understanding how galaxies or stars form and evolve over time.
Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS): This instrument helps Hubble take wide-view images of celestial bodies in visible light, making it good for spotting dark matter and studying how galaxies come together.
Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS): This is like a detective tool, comparing light in several spectrums to determine temperature, composition, density, and motion in space. It is helpful for studying the space between distant celestial bodies.
Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer (NICMOS): This instrument allows us to see in infrared light, akin to seeing heat, which is useful when visible light cannot detect celestial bodies, such as in the birth of a star or dense dusty clouds in a galaxy.
These are some of the key components of the Hubble Telescope, but did you know there is a unique system for tracking time on Hubble, which leads to resetting its clock every 17 years? Imagine a stopwatch that tracks time with limited space. As the numbers increase, less space is available to store the time, and eventually, the stopwatch hits a large number and resets to zero. Similarly, the Hubble Space Telescope has a special 32-bit counter that tracks time. It has 32 switches (bits) that can be either 0 or 1. The clock ticks every ⅛ of a second, continuously recording Hubble's operation time. Once the counter reaches its maximum number, it resets, which takes approximately 17 years. NASA resets this clock every 17 years as part of Hubble's maintenance.
Another key component of the Hubble Space Telescope is the gyroscope, which helps Hubble maintain a stable position in space and measures its rate of rotation to maintain orientation. Sometimes, gyroscopes can cause problems like saturation, where they show maximum values rather than actual movement, causing Hubble to enter safe mode and suspend science operations temporarily. To deal with this, NASA sometimes puts Hubble into "one gyro mode," using only one gyroscope and letting the others rest, thus extending Hubble's operational life.
The Hubble Space Telescope has made many groundbreaking discoveries that have changed our understanding of the universe. Here are some highlights:
Hubble’s Constant:
One of its most famous discoveries is the measurement of the universe’s expansion rate, known as Hubble’s Constant, achieved by observing Cepheid variables in nearby galaxies.
Hubble Deep Field:
Hubble captured a deep space image showing about 1,500 galaxies in various stages of evolution, giving us a glimpse into the universe's history.
Dark Matter:
Hubble has helped identify dark matter by observing its gravitational effects on visible matter, like the distortion of light from distant galaxies.
Exoplanets:
It has photographed young stars with disks likely to become planetary systems, providing insight into how planets form around stars.
Supernova 1987A:
Hubble observed the remnants of Supernova 1987A in great detail, revealing characteristics in a shell of material surrounding the supernova.
Pillars of Creation:
Hubble captured the iconic image of the Pillars of Creation in the Eagle Nebula, showing columns of interstellar gas and dust where new stars are being born.
In conclusion, the Hubble Space Telescope has revolutionized our understanding of the universe since its launch in 1990. Its advanced instruments have enabled key discoveries about the expansion of the universe, dark matter, exoplanets, and stellar phenomena. Despite challenges, Hubble continues to operate beyond expectations, leaving a lasting legacy in astronomy and our knowledge of the cosmos.
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