On April 24, 1990, the Hubble space telescope left the Earth to reach its orbit. 35 years later, it is still operational, although its equipment (those that still work) are no longer just as functional.
Mars, the Rosette nebula, a planetary nebula and a spiral galaxy
In December 2024, Mars found itself closest to Earth during its orbit. The opportunity to have a magnificent vision of the red planet between December 28 and 29, 2024.
On this image, you can see the Tharsis plateau (the large orange extent) and the planet's icy north pole.
© NASA, ESA, STSCI/ JOSEPH DEPASQUALE (STSCI)
March near the opposition 2024
Still in December 2024, Hubble captured a simple fraction of the rosette nebula at 5200 light years from the solar system. This cosmic structure is notably known to be a region where stars are born. But the image takes on all its impressive meaning when you put it in perspective in relation to the actual size of the rosette nebula. Something to get an idea of Hubble's fantastic capacities.
© NASA, ESA, STSCI/JOSEPH DEPASQUALE (STSCI)Close view of the rosette nebula
© NASA, ESA, STSCI; Image Processing: Joseph Depasquale (STSCI)
The Rosette nebula in its entirety
January 2025, Hubble enters his 35th year of service and to celebrate, the space telescope offers us an exceptional view of the planetary nebula NGC 2899. What you see in the center of the image are the vestiges of a star that expelled his diapers during his death.
© NASA, ESA, STSCI; Image Processing: Joseph Depasquale (STSCI)The planetary nebula NGC 2899
Finally, just before celebrating its 35th anniversary, the spatial telescope capture NGC 5335, a spiral galaxy located at an impressive distance of around 240 million light years.
© NASA, ESA, STSCI; Image Processing: Joseph Depasquale (STSCI)
The spiral galaxy NGC 5335
Hubble, an almost finished career
Time is counted for Hubble, he no longer has his Youth of yesteryear. Especially since he can no longer be repaired as it had been before, but the shuttle accident Challenge had cut these missions short.
In this sense, in 2021, NASA with ESA launched Hubble's unofficial replacement: the James Webb space telescope. Since then, if Hubble continues to (on) live thanks to skillful remote changes, James Webb has taken up the torch of the observation of the universe, for our greatest pleasure.
Source: NASA
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