Stunning new image marks Hubble’s 30th birthday

Should learning about space make us feel calmer? The world’s most famous telescope shows us the true scale of the Universe. Some people think this is comforting; others find it terrifying. Alone in the vast emptiness of space, the Hubble telescope turned 30 this weekend with no candles to blow out or cake to cut. Instead, astronomersA scientist who focuses on the study of space. The term originates from the Greek astronomos, meaning star-arranging.  on the ground released yet another extraordinary image taken by the telescope to mark the occasion. Since its launch into orbit on 24 April 1990, the telescope has taken more detailed images of space than scientists ever thought possible, expanding our understanding of the Universe we live in. Unlike telescopes on the ground, the Hubble takes images from outside Earth's atmosphereThe layer of gases surrounding a planet or moon, held in place by that planet's gravity. Small planets and moons have weak gravitational fields, and therefore only a very thin atmosphere., which makes them more accurate. Like many scientific achievements, the Hubble project nearly ended in disaster. A tiny fleck of paint on a tool had misshapen the telescope's mirror: the pictures it took were badly out of focus. At the time, the media called it a $1.5-billion failure. But eventually, in 1993, astronauts in space fixed the problem. It was the world's most complicated optician's appointment. Since then, the telescope has made amazing discoveries, including proving the existence of black holesA region of space where gravity is so strong that nothing can escape from it, including particles and radiation.  and exoplanetsThe name given to any planets that exist outside the solar system.. In the past, scientists could only estimate that the Universe was between 10 and 20 billion years old. Now, thanks to the Hubble, they know the true figure is 13.8 billion years. For author Naomi Alderman, the telescope's images provide a vital sense of perspective on our own lives, especially for those without religion. In 1995, the telescope was pointed at a tiny piece of apparently empty sky for 10 days. Astonishingly, in the "blank" sky, it found thousands of galaxies, each containing about 100 billion stars, which could in turn each be orbited by planets similar to Earth. In comparison to such a vast expanse, everyday human problems seem less huge and overwhelming. Not everyone agrees. For some, knowing just how small we are is terrifying. But others think it is important to understand that whatever differences we have, everyone is together on one tiny planet. Indeed, Alderman even credits the famous EarthriseThis photo of the Earth hovering just over the moon's surface was taken on the Apollo 8 flight, the first manned mission to orbit the moon. It has been called the most influential photo of all time. photo, taken by the Apollo 8 mission in 1968, and displaying the fragility of the Earth, for inspiring the movement to take care of our environment. So, should learning about space make us feel calmer? In a galaxy far far away Yes, say some. The Hubble was a triumph of human achievement. Launched just as the internet was taking off around the globe, its images captured the popular imagination. It provides people with some much needed perspective, showing how small human problems are compared to the vastness of the Universe. Learning about space shows us why it is important to look after our Earth. No, say others. It is almost impossible to comprehend such a vast sense of scale. In comparison to the Universe's 13.8 billion years of existence, a human lifespan of even 100 years (for the lucky few) is terrifyingly insignificant. Learning about space may help some, but millions of people still turn to religion and faith to help them deal with their sense of insignificance. KeywordsAstronomers - A scientist who focuses on the study of space. The term originates from the Greek astronomos, meaning star-arranging.