Invisible Universe Revealed

Streaking across the sky at 17,000 miles per hour some 300 miles above the Earth's surface, the Hubble telescope offers an unobstructed view of the far reaches of the universe. The telescope has sent down spectacular images, including the famous "pillars of creation" photo showing cosmic gas and dust clouds in an ongoing process of stellar formation. On the 25th anniversary of the launching of Hubble, filmmaker Peter Yost's PBS-aired NOVA documentary tells the story of how the telescope has opened up a wider window on the universe, leading to answers (and further questions) concerning the age of the cosmos, the numbers of existing stars, and whether there are planets that might host life forms similar to our own. First proposed in 1946 and named after famed astronomer Edwin Hubble, the telescope almost ended in disaster when a flaw in the instrument mirrors sent back blurred images, requiring a costly, time-consuming, but ultimately heroic "fix." Twenty months and five space walks were needed to correct this "techno-turkey." Viewers will learn about the anatomy of the telescope, and gain insights from astronomer Nancy Roman, here described as the "mother of the Hubble." The telescope has been used to prove that our universe is expanding (and the expansion is speeding up, not slowing down), while also uncovering secrets related to black holes and dark energy. Unfortunately, Hubble's life is limited: with the end of the space shuttle program, Hubble can no longer be reached, and the telescope will wear out, probably crashing to Earth sometime around 2035. Featuring great imagery and compelling interviews, this celebration of a landmark tool in the history of astronomy is highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)