Since its launch into orbit in 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope has revolutionized our understanding of the universe. With its ability to observe distant galaxies and stars with unparalleled precision, Hubble has helped scientists uncover some of the most fundamental mysteries of the cosmos, including the origins of the universe itself.
In recent years, Hubble has made several breakthrough discoveries that have shed new light on the early days of the universe. Here are just a few of its most significant findings.
First, Hubble has helped us better understand the age of the universe. By observing distant galaxies and measuring their distance and redshift, Hubble has provided compelling evidence that the universe is approximately 13.8 billion years old. This confirms the long-standing theory of the Big Bang, which suggests that the universe began as a single point of infinite density and has been expanding ever since.
Hubble has also played a crucial role in our understanding of the universe’s evolution. By observing distant galaxies, Hubble has revealed that the universe was once much smaller, denser, and hotter than it is today. Over time, the expansion of the universe has caused it to cool and spread out, leading to the formation of galaxies, stars, and planets.
Another major breakthrough made possible by Hubble is the discovery of dark matter. Although we can’t see dark matter directly, we can observe its gravitational effects on visible matter in the universe. By measuring the orbits of stars within galaxies and the way galaxies cluster together, Hubble has helped to confirm the existence of dark matter and estimate how much of it is out there.
Perhaps the most exciting recent discovery made by Hubble is the existence of exoplanets – planets outside our solar system. Hubble has allowed scientists to detect exoplanets by observing the slight dimming of a star’s light as a planet passes in front of it. Scientists have now identified thousands of exoplanets, some of which may be habitable.
These discoveries made by Hubble have challenged our understanding of the universe and opened up new avenues for exploration. With its upcoming replacement, the James Webb Space Telescope, we can expect even more groundbreaking discoveries in the years to come.