What were the key findings of the Hubble Space Telescope?

The Hubble Space Telescope has made numerous key findings since its launch in 1990. Some of its most significant discoveries include:

1. Expanding Universe: Hubble's observations provided strong evidence for the expansion of the universe, confirming the Big Bang theory. It measured the rate of expansion, known as the Hubble constant, and helped refine our understanding of the age and size of the universe.

2. Dark Energy: Hubble played a crucial role in the discovery of dark energy, a mysterious force that is accelerating the expansion of the universe. Its observations of distant supernovae revealed that the universe's expansion is not slowing down as previously thought, but rather speeding up.

3. Exoplanets: Hubble has contributed to the study of exoplanets, planets orbiting stars outside our solar system. It has detected and characterized the atmospheres of several exoplanets, providing valuable insights into their composition and potential habitability.

4. Black Holes: Hubble has observed and studied black holes in various stages of their life cycles. It has provided evidence for the existence of supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies and has captured images of the powerful jets of energy emitted by these cosmic behemoths.

5. Galaxy Formation and Evolution: Hubble's deep field observations have allowed astronomers to study the formation and evolution of galaxies throughout cosmic history. It has provided insights into the early universe, revealing galaxies as they were billions of years ago.

6. Gravitational Lensing: Hubble has observed the phenomenon of gravitational lensing, where the gravity of massive objects bends and magnifies light from more distant objects. This has allowed astronomers to study distant galaxies and galaxy clusters that would otherwise be too faint to detect.

These are just a few of the key findings made by the Hubble Space Telescope. Its observations have revolutionized our understanding of the universe and continue to shape our knowledge of the cosmos.