Hubble's Universe Season 1 Episode 2 Hubble's Triumph Remembered

In episode 2 of Hubble's Universe season 1 titled "Hubble's Triumph Remembered," viewers are taken on a journey through the history of the Hubble Space Telescope, from its launch in 1990 to present-day discoveries. The episode primarily focuses on the groundbreaking work of scientists and astronomers who have used data collected by the Hubble telescope to unlock some of the universe's greatest mysteries.

The episode opens with a celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Hubble's launch and highlights some of the incredible images captured by the telescope. Viewers are introduced to some of the incredible people who played a role in the telescope's development and launch, including Charles Pellerin, the director of astrophysics for NASA, who spearheaded the Hubble project.

The episode then delves into the infamous moments when the Hubble first launched and discovered that its mirror had been polished incorrectly, rendering its initial images blurry and unusable. The episode highlights the tireless efforts of NASA scientists and engineers who worked to fix the problem and ultimately installed corrective optics that restored the Hubble's vision.

From there, the episode explores some of the Hubble's most significant discoveries, including the revelation that the universe is expanding at an accelerating rate, which earned three scientists the 2011 Nobel Prize in physics. The episode also showcases stunning images from the Hubble's Deep Field observations, which revealed thousands of galaxies—some of which existed just hundreds of millions of years after the Big Bang.

Next, the episode moves on to the Hubble's role in planetary science, highlighting its extensive observations of the planets in our solar system. One standout moment focuses on the Hubble's capture of a rare collision between Jupiter and a comet in 1994, which produced a massive fireball on the planet's surface.

Finally, the episode discusses the future of the Hubble, including plans for its eventual deorbit and the development of its successor, the James Webb Space Telescope. The episode highlights the capabilities of the new telescope, including its potential to detect the atmospheres of exoplanets and study the universe's first galaxies.

Throughout the episode, viewers are treated to stunning visuals of the universe, including images taken by the Hubble, and breathtaking animations that help illustrate some of the universe's most complex concepts. Hubble's Triumph Remembered serves as a celebration of the Hubble's legacy and a reminder of the incredible discoveries still to come.