Today is the Hubble Space Telescope ’s birthday — it ’s been exactly 24 years since it was launched into celestial orbit . The optical telescope capture fall - drained gorgeous images of space , and is a constant informant of both new science and new computer wallpaper .
Star Cluster NGC 2074 in the heavy Magellanic Cloud . Image credit : NASA / ESA / M. Livio
The Hubble Space Telescope was set in motion on April 24th , 1990 . It was liberate in orbit the following solar day .
Hubble wascarried into compass by Space Shuttle Discovery . Image credit : NASA
Discovery released Hubble into orbit on April 25th , 1990 . simulacrum credit : NASA
The first photos back from Hubble were underwhelming . A crucial flaw in the main mirror was producing fuzzy images , breaking the bosom of astronomer everywhere .
Servicing mission 1 to instal disciplinal optics . Image credit : NASA
After ground - free-base modelling and testing , disciplinal optics were evolve to compensate for the mirror . The first service mission to the Hubble installed these eye — yes , that means the Hubble Space Telescope wears glass . After that , it was beautiful picture after beautiful picture , in a stream of breathless uranology .
More than 3,000 adept in the Orion Nebula . figure credit : NASA / ESA / M. Robberto / Hubble Space Telescope Orion Treasury Project Team
Later servicing mission lend extra instrument , and interchange gyroscopes and batteries . A last service military mission was almost cancelled after the Columbia disaster , but was reschedule after public pressure to restore the dear scope .
Saturn and its band in ultraviolet radiation . Image acknowledgment : NASA / E. Karkoschka
The 3 light - class tall Mystic Mountain in the Carina Nebula . reference : NASA / ESA / M. Livio / Hubble twentieth Anniversary Team
Empty space is anything but : the Deep Field image bewitch multitudinous extragalactic nebula . Image credit : NASA / ESA / R. Thompson
The Sombrero Galaxy ( M104 ) , 28 million light - years from Earth . epitome course credit : NASA / Hubble Heritage Team
A multi - telescope composite persona of Galaxy Cluster Abell 520 . look-alike credit : NASA / ESA / CFHT / CXO / M.J. Jee / A. Mahdavi
Pismis 24 in the core of the NGC 6357 nebula , 8,000 clear - years from Earth . effigy credit : NASA / ESA / J. Maíz Apellániz
What are some of your favourite Hubble Space Telescope images?
NASA
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