Ep 9. Hubble Celebrates 25 Years in Space

Hubble's Universe season 1 episode 9, titled "Hubble Celebrates 25 Years in Space," is a tribute to the iconic space telescope that has revolutionized our understanding of the universe. The episode begins with a brief history of the Hubble telescope, from its launch in 1990 to its numerous upgrades and maintenance missions over the years.

Viewers are then treated to a collection of some of the most breathtaking images captured by Hubble, including stunning shots of the Eagle Nebula, the Carina Nebula, and the Whirlpool Galaxy. The episode also features interviews with famous astrophysicists and astronomers who have used Hubble's data to make groundbreaking discoveries about the cosmos.

Throughout the episode, experts discuss the technical challenges of maintaining and upgrading the Hubble telescope, as well as the cutting-edge science that has been made possible by its incredible capabilities. Viewers will learn about the various instruments on board Hubble, such as the Wide Field Camera 3 and the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph, and how they work together to gather data about everything from distant galaxies to the atmospheres of exoplanets.

One highlight of the episode is a segment on the Hubble Ultra Deep Field, one of the most awe-inspiring images ever captured by the telescope. This image features a tiny patch of sky that was observed for over 11 days, revealing thousands of galaxies that were previously unknown to science. Viewers will learn about the painstaking process of gathering and processing this data, and how it has helped to deepen our understanding of how galaxies form and evolve.

Another fascinating segment explores the Hubble Constant, a fundamental property of the universe that measures the rate of expansion of space. Astronomers have used Hubble's observations to refine this constant over the years, leading to new insights into the age and size of the universe. Viewers will learn about the various techniques used to derive the Hubble Constant, and the ongoing efforts to refine this measurement with improved observational data.

As the episode draws to a close, viewers will be left with a sense of wonder and awe at the incredible discoveries made possible by the Hubble telescope. From probing the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy to searching for signs of life on other planets, Hubble has truly changed the way we see the universe. This episode is a fitting tribute to this iconic piece of technology and the dedicated scientists and engineers who have worked to keep it running for over 25 years.