Watch: Hubble Space Telescope Launch Marks 25 Years

Check out the video at the bottom of this post.

Friday marks the 25th anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope’s launch.

Celebrating the milestone in an appropriate fashion, NASA has announced the selection of an official image to commemorate the anniversary.

Dubbed Celestial Fireworks, the image displays a “brilliant tapestry of young stars flaring to life (that) resemble a glittering fireworks display,” NASA wrote in a media release.

The Hubble was launched into space on April 24, 1990, providing scientists and stargazers with a sharper view of the universe.

“Hubble has completely transformed our view of the universe, revealing the true beauty and richness of the cosmos” John Grunsfeld, astronaut and associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate said in the media release. “This vista of starry fireworks and glowing gas is a fitting image for our celebration of 25 years of amazing Hubble science.”

The centerpiece of NASA’s anniversary fireworks photo is a massive cluster of roughly 3,000 stars named Westerlund 2. The cluster is named after the Swedish astronomer Bengt Westerlund, who first discovered the grouping in 1960.

NASA is also releasing a video series titled “Hubble Memorable Moments” to celebrate a quarter-century of receiving imagery from the device. In addition, it’s released a video showing images of the Hubble’s flight to Westerlund 2. To keep up with Hubble-related videos, just follow NASA’s YouTube channel.

For more information about the celebration or the Hubble, visit NASA online at http://www.nasa.gov/hubble.

Photo courtesy of NASA

See Also:

• Galactic Smiley Face Captured by Hubble Telescope
• Watch: NASA Marks Challenger Space Shuttle Disaster’s Anniversary
• Splashdown for NASA’s Orion Rocket Complete
• Watch: Holiday Lights Shine From Space in NASA Video

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