Hubble camera upgrade declared a success

Credit: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble SM4 ERO Team.

The Hubble Telescope maybe coming to the end of its observation duties but for now, it's working better than ever.

A series of images which show afar-flung galaxies, a densely packed star cluster, an eerie "pillar of creation," and a "butterfly" nebula were all taken on instruments, including the Wide Field Camera 3, that were installed or refurbished back in May.

According to NASA, the new instruments are more sensitive to light and, therefore, will improve Hubble's observing efficiency significantly. It is able to complete observations in a fraction of the time that was needed with prior generations of Hubble instruments.

In a press release, Ed Weiler, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington said: "This marks a new beginning for Hubble. The telescope was given an extreme makeover and now is significantly more powerful than ever, well-equipped to last into the next decade."

For more information on The Hubble Telescope visit NASA's website.