Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

August 10, 1995

The Orbiting Hubble Space Telescope
Credit: NASA, Space Telescope Scientific Institute

Explanation: The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is the largest orbiting public optical telescope in history. Its 2.4 metre diameter reflecting mirror and its perch above Earth's atmosphere allow it to create exceptionally sharp images. Originally launched in 1990, HST optics were repaired to their intended accuracy in 1993 by the first of several regular servicing missions. Astronomers using HST continue to make numerous monumental scientific discoveries, including new estimates of the age of our universe, previously unknown galaxies, evidence of massive black holes in the centres of galaxies, previously unknown moons, and a better understanding of physical processes in our universe.

Tomorrow's picture: The Compton Gamma Ray Observatory

Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (USRA)
NASA Technical Rep.: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA/ GSFC
&: Michigan Tech. U.