F: Is for the "final frontier"

They say space is the final frontier left to conquer. Though I think we have yet to discover our own world we are getting closer to seeing beyond it. In 1990 the Hubble Telescope, a space-based observatory revolutionized astronomy by providing unprecedented deep and clear views of the Universe. Ranging from our solar system to extremely remote fledgling galaxies formed not long after the Big Bang (13.7 billion years ago).












The Hubble, in its sixteen years of operations, has validated Lyman Spitzer Jr.'s (1914-1997) original concept of a diversely instrumented observatory orbiting far above the distorting effects of the Earth’s atmosphere and returning data of unique scientific value. Hubble's coverage of light and of different colors extends from the ultraviolet, through the visible (to which our eyes are sensitive), and into the near-infrared. Hubble is not large by ground-based standards but it achieves heroically in space. Remarkably it orbits Earth every 97 minutes. Recently astronomers selected "The Top Ten Most Amazing Pictures Taken" in the last 16 Years.













They illustrate that our universe is not only deeply strange, but also almost impossibly beautiful." The 1st picture took the #1 slot and is The Sombrero Galaxy - 28 million light years from Earth - was voted best picture taken by the Hubble telescope. The dimensions of the galaxy, officially called M104, are as spectacular as its appearance. It has 800 billion suns and is 50,000 light years across. Picture 2 The Trifid Nebula. A 'stellar nursery', 9,000 light years from here, it is where new stars are being born ranked #10 though personally it is my favorite. Starry Night, so named because it reminded astronomers of the Van Gogh painting. It is a halo of light around a star in the Milky Way is #8. In sixth place is the Cone Nebula. The part pictured here is 2.5 light years in length

(the equivalent of 23 million return trips to the Moon). If you look closely it is like the angel of man. To see the rest of these amazing pictures log onto http://hubble.nasa.gov. Man's quest for the unknown is limitless and infinitesimal. Maybe in journeying with your eyes it will lead you to conquer your own final frontier and make that a F.A.C.T.