(click on image to enlarge)
From NASA/ESA, July 11, 2022: The globular cluster Terzan 2 in the constellation Scorpio features in this observation from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. Globular clusters are stable, tightly gravitationally bound clusters of tens of thousands to millions of stars found in a wide variety of galaxies. The intense gravitational attraction between the closely packed stars gives globular clusters a regular, spherical shape. As a result, images of the hearts of globular clusters, such as this observation of Terzan 2, are crowded with a multitude of glittering stars.
Hubble used both its Advanced Camera for Surveys and its Wide Field Camera 3 in this observation, taking advantage of the complementary capabilities of these instruments. Despite having only one primary mirror, Hubble’s design allows multiple instruments to be used to inspect astronomical objects. Light from distant astronomical objects enters Hubble and is collected by the telescope's 2.4-metre primary mirror; it is then reflected off the secondary mirror into the depths of the telescope, where smaller mirrors can direct light into individual instruments.
Each of the four operational instruments on Hubble is a masterpiece of astronomical engineering in its own right, and contains an intricate array of mirrors and other optical elements to remove any aberrations or optical imperfections from observations, as well as filters which allow astronomers to observe specific wavelength ranges. The mirrors inside each instrument also correct for the slight imperfection of Hubble's primary mirror. The end result is a crystal-clear observation, such as this glittering portrait of Terzan 2.
Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, R. Cohen
_________________________
Meanwhile, what's next for the James Webb Space Telescope after its stunning debut? Well, one focus (no pun) will be looking for life elsewhere:
Since Webb can observe some of the most distant regions of space imaginable, many researchers are hoping that it can find hidden exoplanets that are suitable for life. These would be planets in the Goldilocks Zone, or the regions of solar systems that are just far away enough from their primary star for liquid water. In other words, they’re just right for life.
Some exoplanets that Webb could start exploring aren’t that far off either. There are a few Earth-sized planets in a system revolving around a star 40 light-years away, dubbed TRAPPIST-1. Olivia Lim, an exoplanet researcher at the University of Montreal, has inked some time to use Webb in the near future to explore TRAPPIST-1 and its planets—several of which are in the star’s Goldilocks Zone and represent some of our best opportunities to find signs of life
“The Trappist-1 system is unique,” Lim told AFP. “Almost all of the conditions there are favorable for the search for life outside our solar system.”
If only mankind can keep from destroying itself in the meantime...
