NASA releases picture of starry fireworks for Hubble’s 25th

The brilliant tapestry of young stars flaring to life resemble a glittering fireworks display in the 25th anniversary NASA Hubble Space Telescope image, released to commemorate a quarter century of exploring the solar system and beyond since its launch on April 24, 1990.

MARCIA DUNN, AP Aerospace Writer

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — What better way to celebrate the Hubble Space Telescope’s quarter-century in orbit than with cosmic fireworks?

On Thursday — one day before the 25th anniversary of Hubble’s launch — NASA released an image taken by the space telescope showing a brilliant breeding ground for stars. This stellar nursery is 20,000 light-years from Earth in the Constellation Carina. NASA’s science mission chief John Grunsfeld says the fact that it’s taken thousands of years for the light from these bright, young stars to reach us means “they planned really far in advance.”

Grunsfeld was among five former shuttle astronauts who flew on Hubble missions, who attended a Washington ceremony. NASA Administrator Charles Bolden also was there; he helped deliver Hubble to orbit on April 24, 1990.