TOP 10 THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT HUBBLE

by Irene Klotz

Far, Far Away

hubble space telescope image solar system nasa

Image of the galaxy detected the farthest away from Earth, found in a nearby cluster of galaxies Abell 2218. Credit: NASA/ESA

9. Ancient Universe Spy

The farthest objects Hubble has seen? Galaxies forming when the universe, which formed about 13.7 billion years ago, was about 700 million years old.

With a new camera and other major upgrades planned for Hubble's final servicing mission, astronomers hope to push that clock back to about 500 million years old.

"We're looking at the first light of the universe. That we have done that -- that man has done that -- man has created a machine and put it up there in space," is mind-boggling, said astronaut Michael Good, one of four spacewalkers assigned to the last servicing mission.