Hubblecast

Since October 2013 the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has been observing some of the most massive structures in the Universe -- galaxy clusters. Using the magnification effect caused by their mass, Hubble can look deeper into the Universe than ever before. In this new Hubblecast, Dr J talks about the goals and the achievements of this campaign, called the Frontier Fields programme.

In April 2016 the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope celebrates its 26th year in orbit. During this time the telescope has made many remarkable discoveries. But what comes next? In this first episode about the future of Hubble scientists and staff share with us their view on what Hubble still has to offer.

On 24 April 1990, the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope was sent into orbit aboard the space shuttle Discovery. Now it is celebrating its 26th anniversary. As in the last years Hubble spent a modest portion of its observing time to observe a special chosen object. This year, Hubble re-observed an object, it already captured over 15 years ago: NGC 7635, better known as the Bubble Nebula.

The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope is one of the most sophisticated telescopes in the world. But even Hubble cannot uncover all secrets of the Universe on its own. This new Hubblecast focusses on discoveries astronomers made using Hubble and other telescopes, both in space and on the ground, in a scientific teamwork.

In April 2016 the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope celebrated its 26th year in orbit. More than a quarter of a century of intriguing observations and remarkable discoveries. But what is there left for Hubble, and the forthcoming James Webb Space Telescope, to do? In this second episode on the future of Hubble scientists and the director of the Space Telescope Science Institute share with us their view on Hubble’s shining future.

The astronomical images taken by Hubble are amongst the best known in the world. Behind these iconic observations stands a sophisticated instrument, based upon world-changing technology. Many of the technologies used and developed for Hubble and other telescopes have found their way into other fields and professions, as well as our everyday lives. This new Hubblecast shows how many of the technologies surrounding us owe their origins, or development, to fundamental astrophysics and innovation in astronomy.

Since Edwin Hubble discovered that the Milky Way is not the only galaxy in the Universe astronomers try to find out how many of them are there. This new Hubblecast focusses on the question “How many galaxies are there?” including the new numbers achieved in 2016.

Since astronomers discovered that the stars in the sky are other suns, humanity has wondered if they are also orbited by planets and if those planets host alien life. Since the discovery of the first exoplanet only 25 years ago Hubble is among the many instruments trying to answer these questions. This new Hubblecast tells the story of what we know so far and what we can hope for in the future.