I Want A Lens That Will Do This...

[Speed]

Of course, I wouldn't be able to carry it!

Taken by the Hubble Space Telescope.

The Hubble has a primary mirror of 94.5 inches in diameter (that's 7 FEET 10.5 INCHES) and has a focal length of 189 FEET! Not to mention it's in orbit some 600 miles above the earth's atmosphere.

Click the link below, then click on the image for a larger view. It is spectacular.

http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=7763

[Old Timer]

Amazing images that come back from the Hubble. I'd settle for a 300mm f2.8 and than in my dreams I'd add a 600mm f4 VR.

[Frog]

I've always been impressed by Hubble.
Hard to believe its outlived its expected life and further upkeep is not anticipated.

[Speed]

Amazing images that come back from the Hubble. I'd settle for a 300mm f2.8 and than in my dreams I'd add a 600mm f4 VR.

You sound like me. Just a 300mm f2.8 and a 600mm f4. That's all!

[Speed]

I've always been impressed by Hubble.
Hard to believe its outlived its expected life an further upkeep is not anticipated.

Me too Frog!!!

The next generation - the James Webb Space Telescope - is NOT going to "see" in visible light wavelengths. It is designed to "see" in infrared, so it will NOT be giving us the spectactular images that the Hubble has.

Even sadder, after the last upgrade to Hubble in the spring, when it finally gives up the ghost, the plan is to re-enter it into the earth's atmosphere and let it burn up on re-entry. :-(

The original plan was to bring it back to earth when it was done. I'd love to see it hanging in the Smithsonian. But alas, it is not to be.

[SmartWombat]

I'm surprised they don't just use the shuttle to boost it into a higher orbit for later recovery if the USA ever has a viable manned space program after shuttle retirement.
Ah, I suppose there's the catch.

[Ballen Photo]

WOW! What a shot. Thanks for posting this Speed.
-Bruce

[Speed]

I'm surprised they don't just use the shuttle to boost it into a higher orbit for later recovery if the USA ever has a viable manned space program after shuttle retirement.
Ah, I suppose there's the catch.

You and me both! It's already 600 miles up, so it will takes decades for the orbit to decay enough for it to be a threat. But the current plan is to fit it with a retro-rocket so they can de-orbit it and do a controlled re-entry over the Pacific Ocean so it's not a threat to anyone.

Unfortunately, after the shuttle retires, we will eventually have heavy lift capability again, but NO WAY to return satelites to earth - which has been done in the past!

[Speed]

WOW! What a shot. Thanks for posting this Speed.
-Bruce

My pleasure Bruce.

I've been an amateur astronomer since I was about 12. I love great astro shots like this. That's also why I let everyone here know when something photo worthy is happening in the sky - eclipses, meteor showers, etc.

[Frog]

If they can go to it and fit retro-rockets to it to decay its orbit they can go and fit rockets to it to increase its orbit...can't they?

[Speed]

If they can go to it and fit retro-rockets to it to decay its orbit they can go and fit rockets to it to increase its orbit...can't they?

Of course they can! BUT, you have to remember how bureaucracies work.

IF they put it in a higher orbit, astronomer's will want to use it. Which means servicing it again. Which means spending money.

So instead of leaving it up there, where we MIGHT service it again, and we MIGHT put it back into use, they (the US government) would rather burn it up in the atmosphere.

Our tax dollars hard at work...