how far can the hubble telescope see
The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is a powerful space-based observatory that has been in operation since 1990. Its ability to see distant objects is limited by the technology used to build it and the physical laws of the universe.
The farthest objects that Hubble can see are galaxies and stars that existed about 13.4 billion years ago, during the early universe. This is because light from these objects has been traveling through space for billions of years, and it has only recently reached us.
In terms of distance, Hubble can see objects that are about 14 billion light-years away. A light-year is the distance light travels in one year, which is about 6 trillion miles (10 trillion kilometers). So, 14 billion light-years is an enormous distance, equivalent to about 84 billion trillion miles (135 billion trillion kilometers).
To put this in perspective, consider that the nearest star to the Sun, Proxima Centauri, is about 4.24 light-years away. The Andromeda Galaxy, which is the closest major galaxy to our own Milky Way, is about 2.5 million light-years away. The farthest objects that Hubble can see are more than 5,000 times farther away than the Andromeda Galaxy.
It’s worth noting that there are some limitations to Hubble’s ability to see distant objects. For example:
- Cosmic horizon: The universe has a "horizon" beyond which light has not had time to reach us yet. This horizon is about 14 billion light-years away, and it marks the edge of the observable universe.
- Interference: The universe is filled with gas and dust that can absorb or scatter light, making it harder to see distant objects.
- Instrumental limitations: Hubble’s instruments have limitations in terms of sensitivity, resolution, and wavelength range, which can affect its ability to detect and study distant objects.
Despite these limitations, Hubble has made many groundbreaking discoveries about the universe, and it continues to be an essential tool for astronomers studying the cosmos.
Here are some of the most distant objects that Hubble has observed:
- GN-z11: A galaxy that existed about 13.4 billion years ago, during the early universe.
- EGSY8p7: A galaxy that existed about 13.2 billion years ago.
- HDF 850.1: A galaxy that existed about 12.8 billion years ago.
These observations have helped us learn more about the formation and evolution of the universe, and they have paved the way for future telescopes, such as the James Webb Space Telescope, which will be able to see even farther into the universe.
