http://www.life.com/images/logo.png http://www.life.com/image/first/in-gallery/26802/hubble-the-man-and-his-telescope http://www.life.com/image/50876798 Astronomer Edwin Hubble looks through the eyepiece of the 100-inch telescope at the Mt. Wilson Observatory in California.]]> 50876798 Mon, 01 Nov 1937 03:00:00 EST Astronomer Edwin Hubble looks through the eyepiece of the 100-inch telescope at the Mt. Wilson Observatory in California.]]> Margaret Bourke-White. 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/51122770 Hubble poses inside the workings of the 200-inch telescope at the Mount Palomar observatory, California, 1950. Vain, tall, handsome, and brilliant, Hubble synthesized reams of previous knowledge and data to credibly announce, on January 1, 1925, that our galaxy is only one of billions -- an idea long debated, but until Hubble, never proved -- and that the universe is expanding at an inconceivably fast pace.]]> 51122770 Thu, 02 Feb 1950 03:00:00 EST Hubble poses inside the workings of the 200-inch telescope at the Mount Palomar observatory, California, 1950. Vain, tall, handsome, and brilliant, Hubble synthesized reams of previous knowledge and data to credibly announce, on January 1, 1925, that our galaxy is only one of billions -- an idea long debated, but until Hubble, never proved -- and that the universe is expanding at an inconceivably fast pace.]]> J. R. Eyerman 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/50520339 One of the 20th century's great astronomers, Shapley was also one of Hubble's fiercest rivals; colleagues of both went so far as to characterize them as enemies. The two had differing and irreconcilable views on a number of vital scientific questions, including the size of the universe. (Hubble's far vaster vision turned out to be the right one.) Here Shapley speaks at a 1949 conference on world peace held at Harvard.]]> 50520339 Tue, 01 Mar 1949 03:00:00 EST One of the 20th century's great astronomers, Shapley was also one of Hubble's fiercest rivals; colleagues of both went so far as to characterize them as enemies. The two had differing and irreconcilable views on a number of vital scientific questions, including the size of the universe. (Hubble's far vaster vision turned out to be the right one.) Here Shapley speaks at a 1949 conference on world peace held at Harvard.]]> Cornell Capa. 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/57015863 Technicians check for flaws during the polishing of the Hubble's main mirror at the Perkin-Elmer plant in Danbury, Connecticut, in 1980. The mirror is comprised of plates of glass one-inch thick at the top and bottom, and a lightweight honeycomb center.]]> 57015863 Tue, 01 Jan 1980 03:00:00 EST Technicians check for flaws during the polishing of the Hubble's main mirror at the Perkin-Elmer plant in Danbury, Connecticut, in 1980. The mirror is comprised of plates of glass one-inch thick at the top and bottom, and a lightweight honeycomb center.]]> Space Frontiers 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/57015857 Engineers examine the primary mirror of the Hubble Space Telescope, 1981. ]]> 57015857 Thu, 01 Jan 1981 03:00:00 EST Engineers examine the primary mirror of the Hubble Space Telescope, 1981. ]]> Space Frontiers 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/50591919 The Hubble telescope, still in the grasp of space shuttle Discovery's remote manipulator system, about to be launched, April, 1990.]]> 50591919 Sun, 01 Apr 1990 04:00:00 EDT The Hubble telescope, still in the grasp of space shuttle Discovery's remote manipulator system, about to be launched, April, 1990.]]> Time Life Pictures 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/50588518 ]]> 50588518 Mon, 01 Jan 1990 03:00:00 EST ]]> Time Life Pictures 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/50611274 ]]> 50611274 Sun, 26 Aug 1990 03:00:00 EDT ]]> Time Life Pictures 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/51438012 This image produced by combining data from NASA's three Great Observatories -- the Hubble Space Telescope, the Spitzer Space Telescope, and the Chandra X-ray Observatory -- shows a remnant of Kepler's supernova, first seen 400 years ago by sky watchers, including famous astronomer Johannes Kepler. The bubble-shaped shroud of gas and dust is expanding at 4 million miles per hour.]]> 51438012 Thu, 07 Oct 2004 03:00:00 EDT This image produced by combining data from NASA's three Great Observatories -- the Hubble Space Telescope, the Spitzer Space Telescope, and the Chandra X-ray Observatory -- shows a remnant of Kepler's supernova, first seen 400 years ago by sky watchers, including famous astronomer Johannes Kepler. The bubble-shaped shroud of gas and dust is expanding at 4 million miles per hour.]]> AFP 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/52349410 An image taken via the Hubble telescope in 1995, depicting gaseous pillars in M16, the Eagle Nebula. These columns of hydrogen and dust, dubbed the Pillars of Creation, act as incubators for new stars. ]]> 52349410 Sat, 01 Apr 1995 03:00:00 EST An image taken via the Hubble telescope in 1995, depicting gaseous pillars in M16, the Eagle Nebula. These columns of hydrogen and dust, dubbed the Pillars of Creation, act as incubators for new stars. ]]> Space Frontiers 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/50598170 ]]> 50598170 Sat, 04 Dec 1993 03:00:00 EST ]]> Time Life Pictures 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/50598172 Astronaut Kathryn Thornton works on the Hubble Space Telescope during a Space Shuttle Endeavor mission in December, 1993, 350 miles above Earth and orbiting at roughly 17,000 miles per hour.]]> 50598172 Wed, 08 Dec 1993 03:00:00 EST Astronaut Kathryn Thornton works on the Hubble Space Telescope during a Space Shuttle Endeavor mission in December, 1993, 350 miles above Earth and orbiting at roughly 17,000 miles per hour.]]> Time Life Pictures. 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/50335863 One of first photos taken by the Hubble Space Telescope after a 1999 servicing mission shows the "Eskimo Nebula."]]> 50335863 Sat, 01 Jan 2000 03:00:00 EST One of first photos taken by the Hubble Space Telescope after a 1999 servicing mission shows the "Eskimo Nebula."]]> Andrew Fruchter 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/72315315 ]]> 72315315 Tue, 31 Oct 2006 03:00:00 EST ]]> NASA 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/904182 Astronaut James H. Newman works in the Space Shuttle Columbia's cargo bay in 2002 during an extravehicular activity (EVA) in space. Newman and the rest of his crew upgraded some components of the Hubble Space Telescope during the journey.]]> 904182 Tue, 05 Mar 2002 03:00:00 EST Astronaut James H. Newman works in the Space Shuttle Columbia's cargo bay in 2002 during an extravehicular activity (EVA) in space. Newman and the rest of his crew upgraded some components of the Hubble Space Telescope during the journey.]]> Getty Images 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/87432523 ]]> 87432523 Wed, 13 May 2009 03:00:00 EDT ]]> NASA 2010 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/87067807 The Atlantis flight, in May 2009, was the final shuttle mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope.]]> 87067807 Mon, 11 May 2009 03:00:00 EDT The Atlantis flight, in May 2009, was the final shuttle mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope.]]> BRUCE WEAVER 2010 gettyImages.com