Topics Covered: Awareness in space.
Hubble Space Telescope:
Context:
Nasa reports trouble with the Hubble Space Telescope. The telescope has been down for the past few days. The problem is a payload computer that has stopped working.
Background:
The payload computer’s purpose is to control and coordinate the science instruments and monitor them for health and safety purposes.
About the Hubble Space Telescope:
- The Hubble Space Telescope is a large telescope in space. NASA launched Hubble in 1990.
- It was built by the United States space agency NASA, with contributions from the European Space Agency.
- Hubble is the only telescope designed to be serviced in space by astronauts.
- Expanding the frontiers of the visible Universe, the Hubble Space Telescope looks deep into space with cameras that can see across the entire optical spectrum from infrared to ultraviolet.
- The Hubble Space Telescope makes one orbit around Earth every 95 minutes.
Achievements:
- It has helped in discovering the moons around Pluto.
- Evidence regarding the existence of black holes has emerged based on the observations through Hubble.
- The birth of stars through turbulent clouds of gas and dust have also been observed.
- The hubble telescope made observations of six galaxies merging together.
- On Februry 11, 2021, the Hubble made observations of small concentrations of black holes.
Insta Curious:
- Do you know the Difference between Hubble’s Telescope and James Webb Telescope? Read here
- Do you know about AstroSat? Read Here
InstaLinks:
Prelims Link:
- About the Hubble Space Telescope.
- About James Webb Telescope.
- What is a black hole?
Sources: Times of India.