The Heavens, In All Their Glory
EmailHubbleSite.org, the web site that carries images from the Hubble telescope, passes on word that it’s won a Webby Award, which is a sort of Emmy for the Internet. The site is run by the Space Telescope Science Institute in Maryland, which operates the Hubble. Congratulations to them. Of course, with the entire universe as subject matter, it would be a shame if they didn’t have a good web site. Stop people on the street and ask them to name a famous telescope, and they’re unlikely to name Mt. Palomar or Keck or the Hooker Telescope (the one Edwin Hubble used to demonstrate that the universe was expanding). They’ll probably name the Hubble. We have a sampling of some of the Hubble’s greatest images HERE. The Hubble has been orbiting for 17 years now, and is showing its age, but as you’ll recall, public sentiment (and a few politicians) have come to its rescue. After the Columbia accident, NASA canceled any remaining Hubble servicing missions. But last year they gave it a second look–and would have been pilloried if they hadn’t. STS-125, to be flown by the shuttle Atlantis with Cdr. Scott Altman and six crewmates, is now on the manifest for September 2008.
Space Station Flies Over Eastern U.S. at Night 
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Here’s a thought: If they are leery of servicing Hubble after all the great astronomy accomplished so far, how will they feel when Chandra or Spitzer or the other orbiting observatories begin to show their ages? I know these things aren’t cheap to build and launch, but the knowledge gained has been invaluable. Indeed, these instruments have explained the previously inexplicable and turned some previously-held views of the universe upside down.
Posted by: Andy | May 2, 2007, 11:25 am 11:25 am
I even recall the problems when the Hubble telescope was placed into orbit with faulty optics because of a math miscalculation. That problem was fixed, and the Hubble has gone on to serve us well, as witnessed by the selection of stunning pictures you referred to in your blog. It would be a disservice to science and a downright shame to let the telescope fall into disrepair since it’s been such a useful tool.
Posted by: chuck | May 2, 2007, 12:13 pm 12:13 pm
I was fortunate enough to see “first light” through the Hubble on the NASA channel on my big dish. Of course, on the TV it didn’t look all that bad, but I remember the crew watching slowly turn somber after the initial elation. A sad moment, but it did get corrected. So, it can be done.
By the way, Ned, it’s great that the comments show up right away. I do appreciate that.
Posted by: Andy | May 2, 2007, 1:51 pm 1:51 pm
Ditto to Andy’s last sentence.
Posted by: chuck | May 2, 2007, 2:54 pm 2:54 pm
It’s a shame losing the hubble telescope. I hear that the new telescope they are putting up will not have visual capabilities like the hubble.
Nice site btw, I like your pics from hubble;
Posted by: Sarah Reeders | July 21, 2007, 3:52 am 3:52 am