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
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Canada s $20 view
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World Penguin Day
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The Alhambra in Granada, Spain
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Summer solstice
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American robin
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Welcome to the Alien Egg Hatchery
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Fox kits
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Belgium celebrates its independence
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The frog prince?
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Pont dArcole over the Seine river, Paris, France
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Delicate Arch, Arches National Park, Utah
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Cousins Day
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World Meteorological Day
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Moose, Denali National Park, Alaska
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International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, Harbin, China
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Whales in winter
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Monarch butterflies, Pismo Beach, California
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Prasat Phanom Rung temple ruins, Thailand
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Milford Sound/Piopiotahi rainforest in New Zealand
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International Tea Day
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Celebrating women in science
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La Rocque Harbour, Island of Jersey
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Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve in Layton, Utah
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Glowworm caves in Australia
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Hooray, hooray, it s Unicorn Day!
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Presidents Day in America’s front yard