The Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes represent different eras in space observation technology. Hubble was launched in 1990 and observes primarily in visible and ultraviolet light. James Webb, launched in 2021, focuses on infrared wavelengths. James Webb’s 6.5-meter mirror dwarfs Hubble’s 2.4-meter mirror, allowing it to collect more light and detect fainter objects. James…
Chandra X-Ray Observatory: Launch Date, Mission, Discoveries, Location NASA launched the Chandra X-Ray Observatory on July 23, 1999 aboard Space Shuttle Columbia. Chandra is a sophisticated space-based telescope designed to detect X-ray emission from hot regions of the universe. The observatory orbits Earth at an altitude of approximately 139,000 km in a highly elliptical orbit….
What is a Kepler space telescope? Kepler space telescope was a NASA observatory launched in 2009 to search for exoplanets outside our solar system. William J. Borucki led the mission. Kepler orbited the Sun 225 million kilometers from Earth. The telescope observed 150,000 stars using a 0.95-meter mirror and 42 CCD camera. Kepler detected 2,600+…
The Compton Gamma Ray Observatory was a space-based observatory launched by NASA on April 5, 1991. It weighed over 15 tons, making it the heaviest payload ever flown at the time. The observatory operated in a low Earth orbit at an altitude of 450 km for nine years until June 4, 2000. Compton Gamma Ray…
The Spitzer Space Telescope was NASA’s infrared observatory launched in 2003. Spitzer operated for 16 years, detecting light from cool objects like distant galaxies and exoplanets. Its 85 cm mirror and cryogenic cooling enabled groundbreaking infrared astronomy discoveries. Spitzer’s mission aimed to explore the cosmos in unprecedented infrared detail. Spitzer made numerous groundbreaking discoveries during…
The James Webb Space Telescope is the largest and most advanced space observatory ever built. It features a 6.5-meter primary mirror and operates in the infrared spectrum. JWST conducts infrared astronomy to investigate the origins of first stars and galaxies, planet formation, and exoplanet atmospheres. The telescope’s instrument suite includes four main instruments: Near-Infrared Camera,…
The Hubble Space Telescope is a renowned space-based observatory orbiting Earth at an altitude of 340 miles. Launched on April 24, 1990, aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery, Hubble has dramatically altered our view of the universe. The telescope features a 2.4-meter primary mirror and two solar arrays generating 2,800 watts of power. Hubble has made…