Images of Spiral Galaxy M100 Before and After Hubble’s First Servicing Mission

Supernova 1987A: Halo for a Vanished Star

An eerie, nearly mirror-image pair of red luminescent gas "hula-hoops" frame the expanding debris of a star seen as a supernova explosion in 1987. (Image Released: April 1994)

The Orion Nebula: Stellar Birthplace

An immense wall of glowing gasses forms a colorful backdrop to dozens of newborn stars, many of which have dust disks - as revealed by Hubble - that might be embryonic solar systems. (Image Released: January 1994)

The Cartwheel Galaxy: Result of a Bull's-Eye Collision

A spectacular head-on collision between a spiral galaxy and a smaller intruder sends out a ripple of energy that triggers a firestorm of new starbirth, forming a dazzling ring-like structure. (Image Released: January 1995)

Comet P/Shoemaker-Levy 9 Bombards Jupiter

Hubble followed unexpected and dramatic changes in Jupiter's atmosphere caused by collisions with comet fragments. The titanic blasts left Jupiter with a temporarily ``bruised'' appearance, caused by black debris that was tossed high above the giant planet's cloudtops. (Image...

An Earth-Sized Storm on Saturn

A rare storm, large enough to swallow Earth, appears near Saturn's equator. High altitude winds give the storm a distinctive arrowhead shape. (Image Released: December 1994)

Ring Around a Suspected Black Hole in Galaxy NGC 4261

The gravitational pull of a suspected super-massive black hole forms a frisbee-like disk of cool gas, at the core of an energetic galaxy. Subsequent Hubble observations of yet another active galaxy (M87) confirmed the reality of monstrous black holes - gravitational "sink holes"...

Planetary Nebula NGC 6543: Gaseous Cocoon Around a Dying Star

Mysterious stellar fireworks create expanding gas shells and blowtorch-like jets which form a spectacularly intricate and symmetrical structure. The nebula is a fossil record of the late stages of the star's evolution. (Image Released: January 1995)

Cygnus Loop: Blast Wave from a Stellar Time-Bomb

High speed gas from a supernova explosion slams into dark cooler clouds of interstellar material. Shocked and heated by this tidal wave of energy, the clouds glow in bright, neon-like colors. (Image Released: February 1995)

Wispy Clouds, A Melting Ice Cap, and Dust-Storm-Free Surface on Mars

Wispy clouds, a melting polar ice cap, and a dust-storm free surface all indicate a cool, clear springtime in the Martian northern hemisphere. Hubble is serving as a weather satellite for studying the climate on other planets. (Image Released: February 1995)

HST's Greatest Hits 1990-1995

Hubble Space Telescope evokes a new sense of awe and wonder about the infinite richness of our universe in dramatic, unprecedented pictures of celestial objects. Like a traveler sharing their best snapshots, we present a selection of Hubble's most spectacular images.