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Mar 26, 2025

Medha Singh

Countdown to Hubble’s 35th Birthday - NASA Shares Iconic Throwback Images


April 24, 1990 - Liftoff to the Stars

The Hubble Space Telescope launched aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-31), marking the start of a 35-year cosmic adventure.

Source: NASA


Hubble’s First View of Earth

Taken on April 25, 1990, this photo shows Hubble above Earth, held by Discovery’s arm, ready to explore the universe.

 

Source: NASA


First Glimpse of a Supermassive Black Hole

In 1992, Hubble confirmed a black hole in galaxy M87, 2.6 billion times the Sun’s mass, changing our view of the cosmos.

Source: NASA


Saturn’s Once-in-a-Lifetime Storm

In 1990, Hubble spotted a rare Saturn storm—the first since 1933! A giant white spot wrapped around the planet in a stunning event.

Source: NASA


A Stellar Nursery Like No Other

In 1994, Hubble spotted R136, a giant young star cluster in 30 Doradus, a star-forming region unlike any in our Milky Way.

 

Source: NASA


Cosmic Shockwaves in Orion

Hubble captures a shockwave racing through the Orion Nebula at 148,000 mph, shaping young stars in this stellar nursery!

Source: NASA


The Hourglass Nebula’s Dying Star

This stunning image of MyCn18, the Hourglass Nebula, shows a dying star's final stages, revealing the forces shaping its glow.

Source: NASA


Jupiter’s Fiery Impact

In 1994, Hubble captured Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 hitting Jupiter, leaving rare dark scars on the giant planet.

 

 

Source: NASA


The Explosive Eta Carinae

Hubble captured Eta Carinae’s giant gas clouds racing at 1.5 million mph—leftovers from a massive stellar explosion.

Source: NASA


The History of Hubble

Earth’s air distorts light, making stars twinkle. This “atmospheric distortion” limits the clarity of ground-based telescopes.

Source: NASA