"From our home on the Earth, we look out into the distances and strive to imagine the sort of world into which we are born. Today we have reached far out into Space. Our immediate neighborhood we know rather intimately. But with increasing distance our knowledge fades, and fades rapidly, until at the last dim horizon we search among ghostly errors of observations for landmarks that are scarcely more substantial.
The search will continue. The urge is older than history. It is not satisfied and it will not be suppressed."
Edwin P. Hubble (Astronomer 1889-1953)
A Webquest created by Bill Haslim
In an effort to make the technology developed at NASA more accessible to the general public, they have decided to give a California high school science class the opportunity to take part in the exploration of space. They have invited students to propse the next observation mission for the Hubble Space Telescope. If your group's proposal is selected, you will be the first students from the general public to take command of this great observatory, and you may go down in history as the individuals responsible for the next great discovery in space.
Your goal at the end of this web quest is to write a proposal for where in the vast expanse of space we should next direct our eyes and our attention. Having completed our unit on modern astronomy, you already know many of the questions that remain to be answered. However, before you can propose a mission for the Hubble, there is a good deal about the telescope that you will need to know. Divide the members of your team into the following roles:
Historian
You will investigate the history of the telescope and the hertitage of the man for whom it was named. You will learn about the deployment of the telescope, the problems encountered with it, and how these were overcome. You will find the information you need in the section on history below. Share what you learn with the other members of your group.
Technical Advisor
You will investigate the details of the telescope itself, its instruments, and its capabilities. You will need to be familiar with the basic workings of the telescope in order to advise how it is to be used. You will find the information you need in the section below titled: "The Workings of the Telescope Itself." Share what you learn with the other members of your team.
Astronomer
It will do no good to propose an investigation of something that the space telescope has already investigated. You will need to become familiar with the contributions to astronomy that the Hubble telescope has already made. Look in the section below that deals with this area and share what you find with your team.
Proposal Writer and Presenter
You will investigate who has command of the telescope and the current demand for its use. You will also be responsible for overseeing the writing and presentation of your team's proposal.
Your team will be responsible for the following items:
1.) Written answers you found for each of the questions below and any others that your group may have generated.
2.) A class presentation of the information your group found the most interesting and a summary of your proposal.
3.) Your groups proposal.
(Use the text blanks as a temporary note space, but any notes not recorded on a separate page of paper will be lost when you close this page.)
An Introduction to the Hubble Space Telescope
Your entire team should look at this section together. The following site is a great resource for your team. You may wish to return here for several questions so look it over.
Who is responsible for designing, creating, and deploying the telescope?
Where is the Hubble Space Telescope right now?
The Workings of the Telescope Itself
A digram of the HST
Return to the "Overview of HST" site and look at the following one to become familiar with the telescope itself and its equipment
What instruments are used on board the telescope for its observations?
Take a more detailed look at the Wide Field/ Planetary Camera 2
Describe each of the primary instruments used by the HST to capture images:
Instrument
What is it?
What does it do?
Wide Field/ Planetary Camera 2
Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph
Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer
Corrective Optics Space Telescope Axial Replacement
Faint Object Camera
The next site provides more information on the workings of the telescope and how it is moved and controlled.
How is the telescope aimed at its target for viewing?
How big is the telescope?
How big is its reflecting mirror?
What supplies power to the telescope?
The History of the Telescope
The telescope being deployed from the space shuttle
Deployment of HST
When was the Hubble telescope first put into orbit?
The Man for Whom the Telescope Was Named
Edwin Hubble
Below are three sites that discuss Edwin Hubble
What were Hubble's contributions to the field of astronomy?
When the Hubble Space telescope was first put into orbit it was immediately clear that something was wrong with it. Take a look at the site below to find out what the problem was:
What were the initial problems with the telescope?
The First Repair Mission
Some facts about this first mission:
When was the first mission to refurbish the telescope?
Take a closer look at this first mission to service Hubble.
Some facts about the second mission to service Hubble.
When was the second mission to refurbish the telescope?
What work was done on the space telescope?
Recent Contributions to Astronomy from the HST
What have we learned from the data sent back from Hubble?
Hourglass Nebula
Below is access to many images that the Hubble Space Telescope has sent back.
Compile as complete a list as complete as you can of the objects that the HST has already viewed.
The Proposal
Read about the Goddard Space Flight Center and its role in the command and control of the HST
Having now learned about the telescope and how it has already been used by scientists around the world, it is now your opportunity to propose how it should be used next. Review some of the topics discussed in our unit on modern astronomy and decide what should next be investigated. Consider which of the physical properties of stellar bodies that you would like to understand better.
Your group is to write a brief proposal that describes both what you think should be investigated and the instruments on board the telescope that will be used for this investigation. Your group's proposal, however, is not the only one that will be considered. Think about how you will make your proposal persuasive and how you intend to support your decisions.
When you are ready mail your written proposal to the instructor.
Be prepared to present the highlights of your findings on the telescope and your proposal to the class.