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Hubble Peers Deep Into the Universe The Hubble Space Telescope provides astronomers with what they believe to be the edge of the Big Bang. Space Telescope Science Institute officials say the deep-space view was derived from focusing the telescope on a single point for 1 million seconds. The resulting image is being termed the Ultra Deep Field. NPR's David Kestenbaum reports.

Science

Hubble Peers Deep Into the Universe

Space Telescope Captures Time Shortly After Big Bang

Heard on All Things Considered

David Kestenbaum

Hubble Peers Deep Into the Universe

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A million-second-long exposure by Hubble reveals the first galaxies to emerge from the so-called "dark ages," the time shortly after the big bang when the first stars reheated the cold, dark universe. NASA, ESA, S. Beckwith (STScI) and the HUDF Team hide caption

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NASA, ESA, S. Beckwith (STScI) and the HUDF Team

Astronomers today unveiled what they say is the deepest portrait of the visible universe ever captured. The image taken with the Hubble space telescope shows some 10,000 galaxies. Some resemble miniature thunderstorm clouds. The most distant appear as tiny specks and provide a glimpse of the universe as it appeared shortly after the Big Bang. NPR's David Kestenbaum attended the unveiling at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore.