We’re coming up on the 30th anniversary of the Hubble space telescope’s launch from the space shuttle Discovery, and there will be a new image of space released in honor of the occasion.
A select number of locations have been chosen to unveil the photo, and Staerkel Planetarium is one of them. From the press release:
These national unveilings are the brainchild of the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, Maryland, home to Hubble’s science operations center. In late 2019 STScI put out a call for applications from museums, science centers, and other organizations interested in hosting an event to display Hubble’s 30th anniversary image. After a rigorous selection process, 74 organizations were chosen to host a public unveiling, including at least one location in all 50 states.
Members of the public are invited to attend this unveiling, free of charge, when the planetarium is able to reopen. The unveiling will take place in the lobby of the planetarium and will be accompanied by a short presentation of the science behind the image. Attendees are encouraged to use the hashtag #Hubble30 to share their experience.
The Staerkel Planetarium and the other unveiling locations will receive a 7.5-foot by 5.5-foot vinyl banner featuring the 30th anniversary image, as well as labels in English and Spanish with more information. The banner will be mounted in the lobby after this event, and the image will be incorporated into future Prairie Skies shows. A limited supply of lithographs from STScI will also be available.
You can learn more and view other Hubble images on the Hubble anniversary website.
Photo from hubblesite.org.