Happy 20th Birthday Hubble Telescope: 15 Incredible Photographs of the Universe

The Hubble telescope is celebrating it’s 20th birthday today.  Hubble is an enormous space-based observatory that has allowed us access to incredible views of the universe in our own solar system and beyond.  According to Nasa’s Hubble Space Telescope page at http://hubble.nasa.gov/ :

Hubble’s coverage of light of different colors (its “spectral range”) extends from the ultraviolet, through the visible (to which our eyes are sensitive), and into the near-infrared. Hubble’s primary mirror is 2.4 meters (94.5 inches) in diameter. Hubble is not large by ground-based standards but it performs heroically in space. Hubble orbits Earth every 96 minutes, 575 kilometers (360 miles) above the Earth’s surface.

On April 24, 1990 the space shuttle STS-31 and crew were launched to deploy the Hubble Observatory into low Earth orbit.  The Hubbles unprecedented capabilities made it one of the most powerful scientific devices ever created by humanity and has assisted in bringing public support for NASA through its unparalleled imagery.

Each discovery made by the Hubble Telescope has greatly increased the advancement of every area of astronomical research ranging from cosmology to planetary science.  Below are some of my favorite incredible imagery captured throughout Hubble’s 20 years operating in space.  All images are credited to NASA.

If you happen to have Google Earth, Google has released a plug-in to view their favorite images, including the ability to “fly” to these wonders of the universe!  http://earth.google.com/hubble20th/

Hubble Captures View of 'Mystic Mountain'. Image courtesy of NASA.

Eskimo Nebula. Image courtesy of NASA and National Geographic.

Orion Nebula 20th Anniversary. Image courtesy of NASA and National Geographic.

Cigar Galaxy. Image courtesy of NASA and National Geographic

Dark Matter Ring in Galaxy Cluster. Image courtesy of NASA.

Light Echo Illuminates Dust Around Supergiant Star V838 Monocerotis. Image courtesy of NASA.

Cone Nebula Star-Forming Pillar of Gas and Dust. Image courtesy of NASA.

Light Echo From Star V838 Monocerotis. Image courtesy of NASA.

Dying Star HD 44179, the Red Rectangle Sculpts Rungs of Gas and Dust. Image courtesy of NASA.

The Cat's Eye Nebula's Intricate Layers. Image courtesy of NASA.

Star-Forming Region in the Carina Nebula. Image courtesy of NASA.

Supernova Remnant N 63A Menagerie. Image courtesy of NASA.

The Horsehead Nebula. Image courtesy of NASA.

A Dying Star Shrouded by a Blanket of Hailstones Forms the Bug Nebula. Image courtesy of NASA.

30 Doradus in Ultraviolet, Visible, and Red Light. Image courtesy of NASA.

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