5 ms·

Tragic, and yet the future of astronomy is clearly with extraterrestrial observation platforms.

• nsilvestri 7y ago
  We only really need to send telescopes to space for observing the wavelengths that are otherwise absorbed by the atmosphere. Adaptive optics are almost unbelievably effective at cutting out the interference that the Hubble telescope is practically obsolete (and indeed obsolete, since it will be de-orbited soon).
  • garmaine 7y ago
    Hubble is never going to be deorbited...
    • monocasa 7y ago
      What makes you say that? It's already decaying.
      • garmaine 7y ago
        N/m Hubble’s orbit is less than I thought it was.
  • privong 7y ago
    > the Hubble telescope is practically obsolete (and indeed obsolete, since it will be de-orbited soon). This isn't quite accurate. Hubble has ultraviolet capabilities that are impossible to achieve from the ground (due to the atmospheric absorption). JWST won't replace this functionality. Also, while AO can achieve similar or better angular resolution, it can be difficult to characterize the point spread function (PSF) of the AO system. By contrast the PSF of HST is incredibly stable. Knowing the PSF and having it be stable is key for some types of science.