Hubble image archive
Hubble Space Telescope's Internal Components (Light Path)
This diagram shows the path that light from the universe travels when it enters the Hubble Space Telescope.Hubble’s 1,825 pound, 7.8-foot (2.4-meter) diameter primary mirror collects light from its astronomical target and reflects it to a 12-inch (0.3-meter) diameter secondary mi...
- Date
- Apr 24, 1990
- Mission
- Hubble Space Telescope
- Archive ID
- hubblesite-images-4520-image
This diagram shows the path that light from the universe travels when it enters the Hubble Space Telescope.
Hubble’s 1,825 pound, 7.8-foot (2.4-meter) diameter primary mirror collects light from its astronomical target and reflects it to a 12-inch (0.3-meter) diameter secondary mirror located in the optical tube. This secondary mirror then reflects the light through a hole in the primary mirror to form an image at the telescope’s focal plane. There it is intercepted by pick-off mirrors that pass it into the scientific instruments. Hubble’s mirrors are made of ultra-low expansion glass kept at a “room temperature” of about 70°F (21°C) to avoid warping. The reflecting surfaces are coated with a 3/1,000,000-inch layer of pure aluminum and protected by a 1/1,000,000-inch layer of magnesium fluoride that also makes the mirror more reflective to ultraviolet light.
Credits
NASA and STScIMore Images From This Period
Downloads
Source
Image and source material are credited to the official mission archive linked below.
View on NASA.gov