the-star-stuff: Hubble to Watch Historic Venus Transit, Using Moon as Mirror Scientists are planning to use NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope to observe next month’s historic transit of Venus across the sun’s face. But there’s a twist. Researchers can’t point Hubble anywhere near the sun, because our star’s bright light could damage the telescope’s super-sensitive instruments. So Hubble will watch the June 5-6Venus transit by using the moon as a mirror. Imaged Above: Michael Wilce of Central London, UK took 20 composite shots to create this image of Venus transit on June 8, 2004. CREDIT: Michael Wilce 

the-star-stuff:

Hubble to Watch Historic Venus Transit, Using Moon as Mirror

Scientists are planning to use NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope to observe next month’s historic transit of Venus across the sun’s face.

But there’s a twist. Researchers can’t point Hubble anywhere near the sun, because our star’s bright light could damage the telescope’s super-sensitive instruments. So Hubble will watch the June 5-6Venus transit by using the moon as a mirror.

Imaged Above: Michael Wilce of Central London, UK took 20 composite shots to create this image of Venus transit on June 8, 2004. CREDIT: Michael Wilce 

  • May 5
  • , 2012
This is Hubble’s “Mystic Mountain” image, as seen by infrared cameras. Infrared light penetrates clouds of gas and dust, giving us this inside view of the nebula.  See more sizes here!

This is Hubble’s “Mystic Mountain” image, as seen by infrared cameras. Infrared light penetrates clouds of gas and dust, giving us this inside view of the nebula. 

See more sizes here!

  • January 30
  • , 2012