Twenty six years ago, on April 24th, 1990 the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) launched into its orbit around earth from the space shuttle
Discovery. HST has observed over 30,000 objects in space. To commemorate the anniversary, each year astronomers point HST in a specific direction to observe especially fascinating astronomical occurrences. The Bubble Nebula, which is more than 7,000 light years away from Earth and has a diameter of 10,000 light years, was chosen this time around. It is a nearly symmetrical bubble that is being expanded by intense stellar wind that’s expelled from a hot massive star, SAO 20575—it’s worth noting, SAO 20575 is nowhere near the center of Bubble Nebula. The HST has observed Bubble Nebula previously. Though this recent 26th anniversary
composite image is the highest resolution thus far.
More:
This ‘Bubble Nebula’ Looks Like a Giant, Cosmic Jellyfish
Hot young star & Bubble Nebula captured to commemorate Hubble's 26th year
