Here’s a new way to appreciate the Hubble Ultra Deep Field image, by flying through the 10,000 galaxies in this deepest of all Hubble images. Watch the whole video if you need the background on the Hubble Deep Field and subsequent Ultra Deep Field. Start at about 3:00 if you just want to see the distances between the galaxies in this image. Nice.
Via Gizmodo
I wonder if they plan to do another deep field once they get the new equipment fully operational on the Hubble.
That would be cool. Isn’t Hubble ST more sensitive and precise now?
They should also check Betelgeuse, and attempt to image some exoplanets.
The HST is one of the best tools to have ever been built.
More observations the better!
I wish there were 2 or 3 Hubbles up in orbit.
The sense of wonderment when looking at the deep field photos is profound, the distances are almost inconceivable. I look forward to enhanced hubble and what the JWST is going to see in 2014.
James Web is going to make me very happy.
AFAIU, a second, deeper view was in the works for re-imaging the HUDF-N & S before the loss of the ACS. You can bet those plans are now being implemented not only with ACS but also the newly refurbished WFC3 and the new spectrograph. Herschel is set to make a slew of observations of the deep-field sites, too, in the NIR and MIR portions of the EM spectrum along with many of the largest earth-bound telescopes (in the optical, NIR, radio, x-ray and submillimeter regimes). And of course, one cannot rule out the discovery of a new supernova or GRB or whatever lurks in these repeated deep observations of the sky. Thanks for the link to that animation, Tammy, it certainly made my day 🙂 .
On a related note, I noticed that many of the newly studied compact, massive, distant galaxies (including 1255-0) have designations stemming from searches made of the HDF N &S, the HUDF N & S, the GOODS survey treasure troves and the like. These are tremendously complicated observations even under the best of conditions (see the 29hr spectrogram obtained by the 8.2m Gemini South telescope and reported on by UT here: http://www.universetoday.com/2009/08/05/hubble-gemini-spot-hyperactive-stars-in-small-young-galaxies/ .
Btw, the 2009 paper detailing the workup of this distant galaxy (1255-0) and the marathon Gemini spectra of it has been posted and can be found here: http://hubblesite.org/pubinfo/pdf/2009/24/pdf2.pdf .
It boggles the mind to think about how fast the camera is moving. 13 billion light years in 1 minute is about 217 million LY/s or 2×10^21 m/s.
On the other hand, I always did like the stars screensaver in windows 98, maybe I should make this into one…
Very nice little ‘mini-doco’. The HUDF is so compelling, I have always thought an entire documentary SERIES could be made on it without a dull moment.
I think it is time for another deep field.
I wish they would explain the 47 Billion Light year comment in detail… It’s tough to wrap the brain around that one!!
Billions of galaxies, just in the Ultra Deep Field. Carl Sagan had it right years ago.
truly amazing. if you can feel your existence to even the smallest degree it is hard not to be humbled and changed by the vastness. it is important to keep our brevity and smallness in perspective.