In 1990 the Hubble Telescope was launched into orbit and our view of the universe changed forever. In 2010, notable Hubble discoveries contain the observation of the oldest known universe (13 billion years) and images of an intense impact of asteroids far out in the solar system. The Hubble Telescope’s run of discovery will end in 2014 when it is replace by the James Webb Space Telescope, a larger, much more advanced instrument that will make Hubble’s amazing achievements seem quaint. Resource for this article – Hubble Telescope astronomers travel back 13 billion years in time by Personal Money Store.
Oldest galaxy image from Hubble
The oldest object in the universe was announced to are seen by Hubble Telescope astronomers. Based on the New York Times, a galaxy gave off light that took 13.1 billion years to get to Earth. It had been then detected on an image this year from the Hubble. At the time, the universe was just 600 million years old. Astronomers theorize that the object is among the first stars and galaxies ever born and no longer exists in the form observed by Hubble.
Asteroid crash shown with Hubble
The Hubble also made history last week. It took asteroid collision pictures, the first ever taken. The Christian Science Monitor accounts that the images offer clues about what to expect when asteroids slam together. Scientists could protect Earth with this data. It could help if an asteroid towards Earth was threatening. Astronomers figured a rock about 10 to 16 feet wide smashed into a larger asteroid at about 11,200 mph. The blast of the 2 rocks hitting each other had been huge. It was just like a small nuclear blast. The smaller rock vaporized and pressure swept the debris behind the surviving asteroid into a comet-like tail.
Don’t forget about the Webb Space Telescope
The successor to the Hubble Telescope, the James Webb Space Telescope, could be sent to a stable point in space called a Lagrange point 940,000 miles from Earth — four times farther than the moon. Lagrange points are areas in space where gravity from the Sun and Earth intersect. This is a place where orbit can occur. It’s where the Webb Space Telescope will be. More can be observed in space with the 2 story tall mirror on the telescope. It may also be in a fixed position with a temperature of absolute zero.
Details from
New York Times
nytimes.com/aponline/2010/10/20/science/space/AP-US-SCI-Oldest-Galaxy.html?_r=4 and partner=rss and emc=rss
Christian Science Monitor
csmonitor.com/Science/2010/1014/Asteroid-collision-possibly-spotted-by-Hubble-telescope
Hubblesite
hubblesite.org
Karlonia
karlonia.com/2010/10/20/deep-space-telescopes/
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