Cosmology is the research of the history and development of the universe. The universe is ever expanding and humanity may never discover all it’s secrets. Cosmology has, however helped us understand a lot more about how the universe is the way it is now. There are many tools and instruments used in cosmology, such as the Hubble Space Telescope. This essay will discuss how the Space Hubble Telescope works, and which parts play which role in discovering news things about the universe and space. The physics and workings of the tools inside this instrument will be explained. What this space telescope helps us discover about the universe and the reliability of that found knowledge will also be discussed and assessed.
The Hubble Space Telescope, named after Edwin Hubble, is an operational telescope orbiting outside the earth’s atmosphere at about 600 km above the surface of the earth. Funded for construction in the 1970s and built by NASA, it was scheduled to launch in 1983. Due to technical difficulties the eventual launch was on the 25th of April, 1990. The Hubble Space Telescope is known as the most useful cosmology tool in use today.
The Hubble Space Telescope is made up of five main parts. The diagram on the right marks these on the instrument. The communications antenna sends back the images made with the telescope. It also receives instructions sent by the cosmologists controlling it from earth. The communication antenna sends these instructions to the control and pointing systems, which move the telescope to the desired position. The solar panels on the side power the telescope. In space, the solar panels can absorb more energy from the sun, due to there being less interference from the earth’s atmosphere. The energy from th...
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...n space came to be how they are now, and to find more about how the universe develops. This telescope is also very environmentally friendly, as it only uses energy from the sun. However, the process of launching this space instrument did cost about 1.5 billion US dollars. After its launch there were also many unforeseen technical difficulties. Five servicing missions were organised to repair the space telescope.
The effectiveness of this space telescope in the knowledge and information it has given humanity cannot be measured by money. The quality of the telescope is very high, as it is outside the earth’s atmosphere, which is known to block light. That is why telescopes on earth are usually on high mountains where there is thinner atmosphere so as to produce clearer pictures. As the space telescope is in space, the interference of the atmosphere is non-existent.
The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory or SOHO for short is a cooperative joint effort by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the U. S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The main mission of this project is to study the internal structure of the Sun, its extensive upper atmosphere, as well as to determine the origin and characteristics of the solar wind.
Dyson, Marianne J. Space and Astronomy: Decade by Decade. New York: Facts on File, 2007. 14+. Print.
Who has not ever, even if just for a brief moment, looked up at a dark but vividly lit starry night sky and wondered how far those seemingly little lights reach, and if that beauty goes on forever, or if it ends at some point. I believe this question has been pondered by mankind since our creation, and early astronomers are proof of this pondering. Telescopes began as a way for these early astronomers to chart the stars and planets and their movements as they searched for more than what just the naked eye could offer them. In the early 17th century, craftsman began making telescopes, though the tools to invent them had been available for centuries before. Early telescope were called spyglasses and needed improvement. Galileo's Optic Tube, also known as the Galilean telescope is an example of the early creation of refracting telescopes. There were a few different makers and models of refractor telescopes but it was soon discovered they could make a better telescope. With the beginning of the 18th century came the reflecting telescope, which is also called a reflector; an optical telescope that uses either a single curved mirror, or a combination of curved mirrors. There are many types reflecting telescopes: there is the Gregorian telescope, the Cassegrain telescope, and the Ritchey–Chrétien telescope. But today, we are going to be talking about one telescope in particular; "the 200 inch Hale Telescope, which for decades stood as the largest telescope on the planet"(1), from 1948 to 1976. The Hale telescope opened up the skies in ways we never imagined.
“Eventually, we reach the utmost limits of our telescopes. There, we measure shadows and search among ghostly errors of measurement for landmarks that are scarcely more substantial,” is a quote about Hubble’s views on discovery and exploration of the universe (Hubble, 1936). Edwin Powell Hubble was born in Marshfield, Missouri, USA on November 29 1889 but later moved to Chicago with his family, where he completed his post secondary education and obtained an undergraduate degree in mathematics and astronomy, from the University of Chicago. To fulfill his father’s wish, Hubble being a dutiful son, later went on to study law at Oxford University on a Rhodes scholarship. Upon obtaining his law degree, Hubble successfully opened and operated a small practice back in the US. Seeing as law was never a passion of Hubble’s, as he stated, “It was astronomy that mattered” and knowing his heart lied elsewhere, Hubble once again went back to the University of Chicago to obtain his doctorate in astronomy (Mayall, 1970). Earlier in his life, as having broken the state record in high jump, Hubble was better known for his athletic prowess. Hubble today is lauded as a pioneer and a visionary, who went beyond the confines of his time to seek more and see farther out into the universe, on route making major discoveries and contributions into the vast field of astronomy.
Cosmology is a field of astronomy that focuses on the framework, and emergence of the universe. Over the years, many cosmologists have contributed to the subject, using many forms of technology, to make a multitude of discoveries. Improvements in technology are responsible for superlative discoveries, chiefly about the Big Bang, the origin of our universe. The works of various cosmologists, such as Galileo Galilei, Edwin Hubble, Robert Dicke, Arno Penzias, Robert Wilson, and Vera Rubin have changed the way humanity views the universe, through their use of technology, and through their brilliance.
The Hubble space telescope is a deep space imager used by NASA to explore space. It collects light and magnifies images, and gives Astronomers the most detailed images known to man. Hubble has been at work since April 25, 1990, and celebrated its 20th anniversary in orbit April 24, 2010. Twenty years in service, and still being the leading source for space news says a lot about Hubble's overall longevity and productiveness. Over 6000 scientific articles have been published based on Hubble data, with some of its discoveries being so significant that NASA would have needed multiple satellite missions to accomplish the same results. Its importance to me is based on my lifelong interest in astronomy, and the galaxy we live in. It's importance to others, such as NASA and Astronomers around the world, is due to the fact that Hubble is currently the leading source for new information and ground-breaking discoveries when it comes to deep space, But after a stalled launch in 1985, 5 repair missions since it's beginning, and billions of dollars in funding, I asked myself: Is Hubble worth it? As part of my research for this question I read two article related to the Hubble space telescope: An article from NASA’s official website titled ‘Hubble: The Essentials’ and an article from the New York Times titled ‘Is Space Exploration Worth the Cost’ by Stephen J. Dubner. Both articles played a direct part in my question and its answer: What does Hubble do? And is it worth the cost?
The first observatory in the world was built in 825 in Baghdad (Iraq). Many followed years later in cities like Istanbul (Turkey), Rayy (Iran), Samarkand (Uzbekistan)and Tabriz (Iran). But in these observatories they didn’t only research about astronomy. They worked on subjects like chemistry, physics and medicine.
Just recently a major discovery was found with the help of a device known as The Hubble Telescope. This telescope has just recently found what many astronomers believe to be a black hole, After being focuses on a star orbiting empty space. Several pictures of various radiation fluctuations and other diverse types of readings that could be read from that area which the black hole is suspected to be in.
The Hubble Telescope is the world’s first space-based optical telescope. The Hubble telescope received its name from American astronomer Dr. Edwin P. Hubble. Dr. Hubble confirmed an ever expanding universe which provided the basic foundation of the Big Bang theory. The first concept of the Hubble telescope came from Lyman Spitzer in 1946 who at that time was a professor and researcher at Yale University, Professor Spitzer believed that Earth’s atmosphere blurs and distorts light and a space orbited telescope would be able to surpass this problem. He spent nearly all of his life dedicated to making this concept into a reality. (http://hubblesite.org/the_telescope/hubble_essentials/)
When considering this topic, one might ask themselves why explore space? We explore space to compare other planets with the earth and to study the sun, to explore the universe while finding if intelligent life exists, for satellites to improve communications, weather forecasting, navigation, resource monitoring, and “to create a focal point for a new intellectual renaissance” (Ruzic).
People have been venturing out into the universe for many years now. In addition to satellites, both women and men astronauts have traveled into space to collect data about the universe. The first human being, the first animal, and the first spacecraft in orbit, were all achievements of the Soviet Union.
Light pollution is when sky glow produced by the scattering of artificial light caused by the poor quality of outdoor lighting (Nakata) causing too much wasted light dispersed upwards. Therefore recent studies show that “Nationally, more than 30% of the electricity generated for outdoor illumination is simply squandered by being misdirected into the sky. That comes to 4.5 billion dollars annually” (Lipsitz) for the electricity generated to send light into the sky and across property lines where it serves no benefit. Wasted light sent to the sky needlessly and seriously affects scientific research today for professional and amateur astronomers along with some NASA research. Astronauts have complained about this problem for years. Astronomical observatories are closing down because they can no longer see enough celestial objects to justify continuing their funding or research. For example, the Hubble telescope’s research is interrupted by light pollution, it was affected so much that astronomers did not get to see certa...
One thing us as humans have never been able to fully understand is astronomy. Always having an unexplained mystery, astronomy also has served as a way to keep time and predict the future. The word “astronomy” is defined as the study of heavenly bodies, meaning anything in the sky such as stars, galaxies, comets, planets, nebulae, and so on. Many people, if not everyone, is amazed by the night sky on a clear, moonless night.
Space has always been a pivotal and utmost important subject for many years. In the past, scientists have made monumental advances in this field such as sending people into orbit and landing a man on the moon. Of course, this has only barely been explored and we still have a lot more to see of the ever-vast outer space. One of the most significant topics of all of science has only been touched and there’s still more to come.
This telescope is the result of an international collaboration of 17 countries lead by NASA, European Space Agency and Canadian Space Agency. It will help us determine the geometry of the universe and enable us to establish whether the universe will expand forever.