Specials

Hubble Space Telescope's 20th Anniversary

On 24 April 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope was launched into a low Earth orbit. Now, 20 years on, Hubble continues to produce stunning images of the Solar System and the farthest reaches of the Universe. In this special, Nature presents a retrospective, a slideshow and some archive stories about the iconic telescope.
Happy Birthday Hubble!

Scientific legacy
An eventful life
Selected research

Scientific legacy

Slideshow: The Hubble Space Telescope in pictures

Nature takes you on a whirlwind tour of some of the most striking and scientifically important images produced by the space telescope.
Hubble Space Telescope clocks up 20 years

Nature looks at a troubled history, some remarkable discoveries and the future of the instrument.

( 22 April 2010 )
Galaxies' collision history revealed

Massive mergers sparked bursts of star formation when the Universe was half its age.

( 2 January 2009 )
Distant world sports gassy signature of habitability

Massive mergers sparked bursts of star formation when the Universe was half its age.

( 26 November 2008 )

More...

An eventful life

Astronauts complete Hubble repairs

( 20 May 2009 )
Hubble: the last Hurrah

Telescope to receive final servicing mission.

( 6 May 2009 )
Kaputnik chaos could kill Hubble

Worst-ever orbital collision leads to calls for tighter regulation.

( 17 February 2009 )
Repair puts Hubble back on track

( 5 November 2008 )
Hubble computer glitch holds up servicing mission

Aging telescope will wait until February 2009 for replacement hardware.

( 30 September 2008 )