The Hubble Telescope

The Hubble Space Telescope, about the size of a railway truck, is said to have 'extended our view of the universe more dramatically than any single instrument since Galileo first pointed his crude low-power telescope at the heavens'. Pictures taken by the Hubble beam in from space to America's Space Administration Centre (NASA), and have provided information affecting practically every branch of astronomy. At present the telescope is recording pictures of a very different part of the universe, probing more deeply into the cosmos than has ever been possible before. An astronomer at the University of Arizona has said that the Hubble 'is fundamentally altering our view of the universe'.

The concept of an 'Extra-terrestrial Observatory' was envisaged fifty years ago. For earth's atmosphere is like a thick blanket of gas, constantly swirling and churning. This blurs the images in the astronomer's telescope. But a telescope lifted above earth's atmosphere could take crystal clear pictures, showing the cosmos in all its colours, not just the colours visible to the naked eye.

However, it took the American scientists a long time to persuade

Congress that the enormous expenditure involved would be justified; an overall cost of between five and six billion dollars. The go-ahead was finally given in 1977, and in 1983 the telescope was formally named alter the astronomer Edwin Hubble. Seven more years passed before it was finally launched into space. Then the scientists' high expectations were devastated: a flawed mirror was ruining the quality of pictures taken through the telescope, so defeating the main objective of the project.

About three years later, in December 1993, astronauts in the shuttle 'Endeavour' undertook the highly skilled and precarious task of 'servicing' the Hubble. Their series of televised space walks attracted viewers throughout the world. 'Floating on the verge of a black void, the astronauts checked off one item after another, including the flawed mirror'. Their feat was described as 'a display of superhuman intelligence and ability'. Their objective was fully realized: 'each instrument now functioned exactly as designed', and pictures of unprecedented clarity and precision were being transmitted to earth. One team of astronomers has as a result been able to study the sharpest pictures ever taken of some of the most distant known galaxies, leading to significant new findings.

One of the more sensational series of pictures released by NASA gave planetary astronomers an amazing view of mountain-sized fragments of the comet 'Shoemaker Levy 9' crashing one after another into Jupiter. Other telescopes registered flashes of light generated by the tremendous impact of these fragments, but only the space telescope could record details of the scars they left behind, giving scientists a clearer understanding of Jupiter's atmosphere.

The Hubble Telescope is designed to function until the year 2005. Shuttle missions are planned to link up with the telescope in 1997, 1999 and 2002; on each occasion the cameras and other instruments will be upgraded, increasing the Hubble's effectiveness.

It is three thousand years since David wrote:

When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; what is man, that Thou art mindful of him? (Ps.8:3,4).

And again,

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth His handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge (Ps. 19:1,2).

In the eighteenth century the poet Addison caught the spirit of David's contemplation:

What though no real voice or sound

Amidst their radiant orbs be found?

In reason's ear they all rejoice

And utter forth a glorious voice;

For ever singing as they shine,

'The hand that made us is divine'.

Throughout the ages mankind has been responsible to discern God's everlasting power and divinity in the things He has made, including the majestic testimony of the heavenly bodies, even as observed by the naked eye (Rom. 1:20). As when through Isaiah God appealed to idolatrous Israel:

Lift up your eyes on high, and see who hath created these, that bringeth out their host by number: He calleth them all by name; by the greatness of His might, and for that He is strong in power, not one is lacking (Is. 40:26).

With every fresh advance which reveals more fully the marvels of the universe, the believer's heart should surely be moved in deepening awe at the majesty of God in His creation. May He be glorified in this way as a result of the Hubble Telescope's sensational feed-back from outer space!

unknown | May 1996
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