The Hubble Space Telescope celebrates its 33rd anniversary in orbit April 24th, 2023.
To mark the occasion, scientists premiered this ethereal image of a nearby star-forming region NGC 1333.
Located approximately 960 light-years away,
this view offers an example of how our solar system may have looked as it formed inside a dusty cloud 4.6 billion years ago.
After 33 years, Hubble continues to provide awe-inspiring views of the Universe.
Within our Solar System
Hubble noticed Saturn’s rings acting strangely.
Whenever Saturn has its autumnal or vernal equinox, strange spokes appear across the planet’s rings.
While their origin and seasonal nature are still unclear, scientists suspect the cause is the planet’s magnetic field.
Hubble also caught changing seasons on Jupiter and Uranus.
Hubble glimpsed the successful results of NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART).
DART was a test of asteroid deflection…NA
…designed to alter the speed and path of an asteroid by impacting it.
This is a key test of NASA's planetary defense strategy.
Beyond Our Solar System
Hubble spotted two exoplanets that might be water worlds.
Hubble determined the mass of an isolated black hole roaming our Milky Way Galaxy…
…and caught a dead star ripping up an entire planetary system.
Beyond Our Galaxy
Hubble found young stars spiraling into the center of a huge, oddly shaped stellar nursery called NGC 346…
…providing insight into a possible baby boom of starbirth in the early universe.
Hubble watched a hungry black hole twist a captured star into a donut shape.
It also caught three supermassive black holes orbiting each other, throwing one out of its galaxy.
This ejected black hole plowed through dust and gas,
kick-starting new star formation as it rushed away.
After 33 years, Hubble keeps expanding our knowledge of the cosmos and awe of its workings.
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