Hubble Space Telescope: Calibrated and Raw Astronomical Observations

Launched in 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is an orbiting observatory operating from the near-infrared to ultraviolet wavelengths. Its archive contains over 100,000 observations of more than 20,000 targets, producing imaging, spectrographic, astrometric, and photometric data. The dataset includes calibrated and raw data from instruments such as ACS, COS, STIS, WFC3, and FGS.

Use Cases

• Analyzing galaxy morphology and evolution based on high-resolution imaging data.
• Conducting spectroscopic studies of stellar and interstellar composition using spectrographic data.
• Performing photometric analysis of variable stars and transiting exoplanets from time-series observations.
• Calibrating new astronomical instruments or methods using the archive's engineering and calibration data.

Strengths

• Contains over 100,000 observations of more than 20,000 distinct astronomical targets.
• Data spans multiple instrument types (ACS, COS, STIS, WFC3, FGS) and data modalities (imaging, spectroscopy, photometry).
• Archived and distributed by the authoritative Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes (MAST).

Limitations

• Column names and detailed data schema are not provided in the available metadata.
• Sources conflict on the operational end date (one source states 'scheduled to operate through 2010').
• License information is inconsistently reported ('other-license-specified' vs. 'Public domain' with attribution requirements).

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes (MAST)

Collection Method

Data collected via pointed and parallel observing programs using Hubble Space Telescope instruments.

Time Range

1990 to at least 2010, with data from ongoing missions.

Freshness

2026-03-13 19:31:37.750819

Geography

Space-based observations; celestial targets across the universe.