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Hubble Stretches Stellar Tape Measure 10 Times Farther into Space

Hubble Stretches Stellar Tape Measure 10 Times Farther into Space
This illustration shows how the precision stellar distance measurements from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have been extended 10 times farther into our Milky Way galaxy than possible previously. This greatly extends the volume of space accessible to refining the cosmic yardstick needed for measuring the size of the universe. This most solid type of measurement is based on trigonometric parallax, which is commonly used by surveyors. Because the stars are vastly farther away than a surveyor's sightline, Hubble must measure extremely small angles on the sky.

About the Data

  • Data Description
    Data DescriptionProposal: A description of the observations, their scientific justification, and the links to the data available in the science archive.
    Science Team: The astronomers who planned the observations and analyzed the data. "PI" refers to the Principal Investigator.
    The Hubble data are from proposals 12679: A. Riess (JHU/STScI), J. MacKenty (STScI), J. Grunsfeld (NASA), and L. Macri (Texas A & M University); 12794: J. MacKenty (STScI), A. Riess (JHU/STScI), S. Casertano (STScI/JHU), and J. Anderson (STScI); and 13101: A. Riess (JHU/STScI). The science team comprises A. Riess (JHU/STScI), S. Casertano (STScI/JHU), J. Anderson and J. MacKenty (STScI), and A. Filippenko (University of California, Berkeley).
  • Release Date
    April 10, 2014
  • Science Release
    Hubble Stretches Stellar Tape Measure 10 Times Farther into Space
    Read the release
  • Credit
    Illustration: NASA, ESA, and A. Feild (STScI); Science: NASA, ESA, A. Riess (JHU/STScI), S. Casertano (STScI/JHU), J. Anderson and J. MacKenty (STScI), and A. Filippenko (University of California, Berkeley)

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Last Updated
Mar 28, 2025
Contact
Media

Claire Andreoli
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
claire.andreoli@nasa.gov

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