Where is the Hubble Space Telescope located?
Quick Answer
The Hubble Space Telescope orbits Earth in low Earth orbit, about 540 kilometers above the surface. It is not based on the ground but circles the planet every 96 to 97 minutes.
The Full Story
The Hubble Space Telescope is located in low Earth orbit around Earth, where it has been operating since its launch in 1990. It flies at an altitude of about 540 kilometers, or around 335 miles. From this position, Hubble avoids much of Earth's atmospheric distortion, allowing it to take sharp images of distant galaxies, nebulae, and planets. The telescope was launched aboard Space Shuttle Discovery on April 24, 1990. Its location above the atmosphere is the key to its revolutionary observations.
Key Facts
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"This telescope is in orbit, not in a desert or observatory dome."