Introduction to the Hubble Space Telescope

The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is a space-based observatory orbiting Earth. Hubble observes the universe in multiple wavelengths of light, from ultraviolet to visible to near-infrared.

 

The Hubble Space Telescope’s launch in 1990 marked the beginning of a new era in humanity’s exploration of the universe. From above Earth’s obscuring atmosphere, Hubble can obtain extremely high-resolution images and detailed spectroscopic data of the cosmos, from our solar system to the distant, early universe. Scientists submit proposals to use Hubble through an open, peer-reviewed, anonymous competition.

Through the middle of the next decade, HST will remain the only space-based telescope providing spectroscopy and high-resolution imaging at ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared wavelengths. Since the James Webb Space Telescope launched in 2021, the two observatories have been working in tandem to push astronomy forward and pursue the boldest scientific questions of our time.

part of HST's Legacy ExtraGalactic UV Survey (LEGUS)
NGC 3627, part of the Hubble Space Telescope's Legacy ExtraGalactic UV Survey (LEGUS), the sharpest, most comprehensive ultraviolet-light survey of star-forming galaxies in the nearby universe. The images are a blend of ultraviolet light and visible light from Hubble's Wide Field Camera 3 and Advanced Camera for Surveys.

Using the Hubble Space Telescope

Observatory News

Resources

Press Releases

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Upcoming STScI Events

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  • The Messy Eating Habits of Black Holes

    21 Oct 2026

    When an unsuspecting star wanders too close to a supermassive black hole, the star can be ripped apart by the black hole's immense gravity. As the black hole messily feeds on the...

  • Webb Office Hours

    Promotional image for Webb Office Hours
    22 Oct 2026

    The JWST User Community is invited to call into Webb Office Hours to ask questions and directly interact with a team of STScI JWST experts via WebEx. We welcome questions about the...

  • JSTUC Community Forum 3 JWebbinar

    28 Oct 2026

    The JWST Users Committee (JSTUC) will hold their third Community Forum to gather feedback from JWST users on their experiences with the observatory so far. The JSTUC’s goal is...

HST Help Desk


Please contact the HST Help Desk with any questions.