In the Hubble Space Telescope's 31 years of service, it has been a very busy telescope. Not only has it taken stunning, breathtaking photos of planets, nebulas, and other things you can find in space, it also had a hand in important discoveries that changed science and the way we see space.
We have extensively covered the beautiful photographs of the Hubble here at Tech Times, so now we will zone into the important discoveries that the space telescope has made through the years.
From moon discoveries to finding more about the universe itself, the Hubble Space Telescope's discoveries have enriched what we know of space and science.
The Hubble Space Telescope
Before we talk about the discoveries made by the Hubble, let us first look into what it actually is.
The Hubble Space Telescope is the space-based observatory of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The Hubble Space Telescope was launched to space in 1990 and deployed by a space shuttle called Discovery.
The telescope has been named after Edwin Hubble, an astronomer.
Hubble Space Telescope Discoveries
While the Hubble is best known for its awe-inspiring photos of planets and their moons, nebulas, galaxies, and everything in between, the space telescope has also played a major role in many discoveries about space. Here are some of them:
Age of the Universe
Believe it or not, the Hubble Space Telescope actually had a hand in determining the actual age of the universe. The space telescope's observation of the M81 spiral galaxy helped with this.
Per an article by Science Focus, thanks to the measurements made by the Hubble, scientists were actually able to determine that the universe is 13.8 billion years old. Therefore, the universe's age is around three times the age of planet Earth.
Related Article : Astronomers Catch Glimpse Of Early Universe As Hubble Discovers 252 Faint Dwarf Galaxies
Pluto's Two Moons and the Dwarf Planet Bigger Than It
According to the Royal Museums Greenwich website, the Hubble first photographed two then-unknown moons orbiting Pluto. These moons were eventually named Nix and Hydra.
Two years later, it was eventually discovered, thanks to the observations made by the space telescope, that a dwarf planet known as Eris is bigger than Pluto.
Supermassive Black Holes
Ever heard of a supermassive black hole? Its name will already give you an idea of what it is. According to a previous Tech Times article about supermassive black holes, these black holes are the largest type of black hole that exists.
Scientists have also figured that these humongous black holes exist, but the Hubble Space Telescope helped confirm it. According to an article by CBS News, the space telescope's observation of the M87 galaxy was "hailed as a 'textbook' proof that supermassive black holes existed.
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Written by Isabella James
