The Hubble Space Telescope
The U.S. Hubble Space Telescope is scheduled for launch aboard the space shuttle Discovery sometime this year.
Once out in orbit, 368 miles above the earth and far from the distorting effects of the atmosphere, Hubble’s 94.5 inch mirror will make images ten times sharper than any earth-based telescope.
“For astronomers, it will be like the receipt of the Bible,” says John Bachall of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton.
Hubble will focus on stars twenty times fainter than any seen with existing telescopes.
Hubble will also examine areas that appear vacant from earth to see if they are populated with faint stars. It will also search for planets outside our solar system.
“And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.” Ecclesiastes 1:13