On this day in 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope entered orbit in the cargo bay of the space shuttle Discovery. Shortly thereafter, it began its continuing mission to capture images of our universe from low Earth orbit, free of the obstructions of clouds and the distortions of the atmosphere. Like its namesake, the great astronomer Edwin Hubble, the Hubble Space Telescope has transformed our understanding of the cosmos. Some of the telescope"s greatest contributions include its Deep Fields images, which peer back billions of light-years and help astronomers measure the size and age of the universe and test theories about its origin. It"s also produced jaw-dropping images of objects closer to home, like the one on today"s homepage. Here we"re looking at a maelstrom of glowing gas and dark dust within one of the Milky Way"s satellite galaxies, the Large Magellanic Cloud.
Celebrating 30 years of eye-opening images
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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National Park Week: Guadalupe Mountains National Park
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Hoh Rain Forest, Olympic National Park, Washington
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Sea lion in a kelp forest, Baja California, Mexico
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Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Bavaria, Germany
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Beethoven s 250th
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Irohazaka road
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Guanahacabibes National Park, Cuba
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A notorious gunfight that was incorrectly named
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Dog days of summer
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A meerkat stands alone
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World Book Day
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World Bee Day
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Rock House in Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio
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Astronomy Day
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A prison fit for a count
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It s Slovenia s Independence and Unity Day
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Flying high on National Bird Day
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A look at Uranus, seventh planet from the sun
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Strolling across the Red Lagoon
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Ad-Deir, Petra, Jordan
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Bohemian waxwings in Canada
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Paralympic Games begin in Paris
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Moody skies over Valletta
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Cross this bridge if you dare
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Giving Tuesday
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Muniellos Nature Reserve
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A history of Vinland
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Longtailed widowbird at Rietvlei Nature Reserve, South Africa
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Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute, Venice, Italy
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Brotherly cubs