This year, the beloved Hubble Space Telescope turned 30. Launched in 1990, it has been instrumental in helping us understand the expansion of the universe and has allowed us to peer out at objects far beyond our solar system.
Now, NASA has updated its Hubble Caldwell catalog, a collection of some of the most beautiful images Hubble has captured throughout the years. The Caldwell catalog project, which began in 1995, was a list originally compiled by astronomer Sir Patrick Caldwell-Moore as an addition to the traditional Messier catalog which lists astronomical objects that can be seen in the sky. The Caldwell catalog contains 109 objects including galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters which are visible to amateur astronomers.
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For astronomers who want to refer to highly detailed images of the objects they’re observing, or simply for those who love to enjoy stunning images of space, the Hubble Caldwell catalog shows all of these objects in exquisite detail, as well as a map of where in the night sky each is located.
We’ve shared some of our favorite additions to the catalog below, which include dusty nebulae, distant galaxies, and bright star clusters:
A new image from the Hubble Space Telescope shows the drama that unfolds as a new star is born. Within a swirling cloud of dust and gas, a newly formed star is giving off powerful jets that blast away material and cut through the nearby dust of the surrounding nebula to create this stunning vista.
The image shows a system called FS Tau, located 450 light-years away in a region called Taurus-Auriga. Within this region are many stellar nurseries with new stars forming, making it a favorite target for astronomers studying star formation. But this particular system stands out for the dramatic nature of its newborn star, which has formed an epic structure called a Herbig-Haro object.
This week's image from the Hubble Space Telescope shows an irregular galaxy, the spindly arms and clawed shape of which has led to it being named the Spider Galaxy. Located 30 million light-years away, the galaxy also known as UGC 5829 is an irregular galaxy that lacks the clear, orderly arms seen in spiral galaxies like the Milky Way.
This image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope shows the irregular galaxy UGC 5829. ESA/Hubble & NASA, R. Tully, M. Messa
See what James Webb and Hubble are observing right now with this tool
If you're looking for a relaxing way to peruse the fascinating sights of space on your lunch break, then a newly updated tool from NASA has you covered. The Space Telescope Live tools show the current targets of the James Webb Space Telescope and the Hubble Space Telescope, letting you browse the cosmos from the perspective of two of the hardest-working telescopes out there.
You can visit the web-based tools at WebbTelescope for the James Webb Space Telescope and HubbleSite for the Hubble Space Telescope. Clicking on a link will bring you to a portal showing the current and past observations of the telescope and a ton of detail about the observations.