Dazzling Images to Celebrate Hubble's 35th Anniversary
- Editor OGN Daily
- Apr 27
- 2 min read
The most famous telescope in history has reached a major milestone - it's 35 years old.
The Hubble Space Telescope launched on a grand scientific adventure to study the cosmos on 24 April 1990. To celebrate, NASA and the European Space Agency have released four stunning new space images - featuring Mars, two nebulas and a galaxy. The variety of targets shows off Hubble's versatility and ability to see not only into deep space, but also into our own solar system.
Hubble's discoveries have been covered in over 22,000 papers, but its influence reaches far beyond science journals. It has shaped the public's view of our universe through groundbreaking images like the Pillars of Creation.
Designed to last for 15 years, it's no surprise that NASA and the ESA wish to celebrate its 35th birthday. Here are the four awe-inspiring anniversary images.
Mars, the frosty marble
Hubble turned its gaze on the red planet at the end of 2024. The crisp views highlight the planet's northern polar cap at the beginning of the Martian spring. Gauzy clouds make Mars look like a frosty marble.
Planetary nebula NGC 2899, a space butterfly
A white dwarf star lingers at the center of planetary nebula NGC 2899. It resembles a misshapen butterfly or a moth in flight. Gas and dust give the nebula its unique look. All this beauty traces to the tumultuous death of its central star.
Rosette Nebula and gas clouds
Hubble's look at the Rosette Nebula focuses on a small part of a much larger formation. The nebula is a place of active star formation. "Dark clouds of hydrogen gas laced with dust are silhouetted across the image," ESA said. "The clouds are being eroded and shaped by the seething radiation from the cluster of larger stars in the center of the nebula."
Barred spiral galaxy NGC 5335
NGC 5335 is a barred spiral galaxy like our Milky Way. Hubble's image shows the distinctive bar across the middle of NGC 5335. "The bar channels gas inwards toward the galactic center, fueling star formation," said ESA. "Such bars are dynamic in galaxies and may come and go over two-billion-year intervals."
Images courtesy of NASA, ESA, STScI.
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