Which telescope first captured exoplanet light directly?
Quick Answer
The Hubble Space Telescope helped make some of the first direct detections of light from exoplanets and their atmospheres, but the first widely recognized direct imaging detections came from ground-based telescopes in the early 2000s. The field has since advanced rapidly with Webb and other observatories.
The Full Story
Direct imaging of exoplanets is one of astronomy’s hardest tasks because stars are overwhelmingly bright. Early breakthroughs came in the late 1990s and early 2000s as astronomers began detecting light from exoplanets more directly, with space and ground observatories contributing. Hubble later became important for measuring exoplanet atmospheres and transit signals, while newer instruments have improved direct imaging dramatically. The James Webb Space Telescope has expanded the study of exoplanet chemistry and temperature. Because the answer depends on whether one means first detection, first clear image, or first atmosphere measurement, the best-known fact is that exoplanet direct imaging became practical only in the 21st century.
Key Facts
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"Seeing a planet beside its star is one of astronomy’s toughest tricks."