The Hubble Space Telescope has been a game-changer in space exploration, celebrating its 35th anniversary with a fresh collection of stunning images. Launched on April 24, 1990, the telescope was designed to observe the universe with unprecedented clarity and detail.
Since its launch, Hubble has made nearly 1.7 million observations that have led to over 22,000 scientific papers. It has amassed over 400 terabytes of archived data, making it a highly sought-after tool for astronomers.
The newly released images showcase breathtaking views of the cosmos, including seasonal changes on Mars, stars sculpting their environment into celestial art, and a gorgeous spiral galaxy with patchy starbirth swirls through space.
A frosty portrait of Mars reveals its atmosphere veiled by thin water-ice clouds, while another image showcases NGC 2899, a moth-like planetary nebula that resides roughly 4,500 light-years away. The Rosette Nebula is also featured in the images, with monster dark clouds dancing against its luminous backdrop.
The Hubble Space Telescope’s legacy is the bridge between our past and future knowledge of the universe, according to officials with the European Space Agency (ESA). As astronomers continue to explore the cosmos, Hubble remains an invaluable resource for unlocking the secrets of space.
Source: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/hubble-space-telescope/hubble-telescope-snaps-stunning-portraits-of-mars-a-celestial-moth-and-more-in-spectacular-35th-anniversary-photos