Which NASA space telescope launched in 1990 transformed observations of distant galaxies and black holes?

The Hubble Space Telescope launched in 1990 and transformed observations of distant galaxies and black holes.

Hubble operates above Earth’s atmosphere, which blurs and absorbs some wavelengths of light. Its sharp images allowed astronomers to examine galaxy centres, star-forming regions, and distant objects with exceptional clarity.

Hubble does not directly photograph most black holes. Instead, it observes their surroundings, including bright accretion disks, energetic jets, stellar motions, and the shapes of host galaxies. These measurements help reveal how supermassive black holes influence galactic evolution.

The telescope initially suffered from a flawed primary mirror, discovered soon after launch. Astronauts corrected the problem during the 1993 servicing mission, after which Hubble became one of the most productive observatories in astronomy. It is distinct from the James Webb Space Telescope, which launched in 2021 and specializes strongly in infrared observations.