Around Earth
An Earth orbit, low or highly elongated depending on the mission.
The portal / Space telescopes
See further.
Beyond the atmosphere.
Hubble, James Webb and space observatories: complementary instruments for exploring galaxies, stars and planets.
Why observe from space?
The atmosphere blurs some images and absorbs much infrared radiation, X-rays and gamma rays. Above it, each mission opens a different window on the Universe.
Three ways to travel
Near the L2 point
A region of the Sun–Earth system about 1.5 million kilometres from Earth. Observatories follow an orbit around L2.
Around the Sun
Some missions follow heliocentric orbits, sometimes gradually drifting away from Earth.
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NASA / ESALaunch 1990
Hubble
Ultraviolet, visible and near-infrared.A versatile observatory upgraded through crewed servicing missions.
Observing location
Low Earth orbit.
Low Earth orbit.
History, instruments and discoveries
The instruments
Its instruments include WFC3, ACS, COS and STIS.
Scientific contribution
Deep images revealed distant galaxies; its measurements refined our understanding of cosmic expansion.
Official sources
NASALaunch 1999
Chandra
X-rays.A detailed view of extremely hot regions of the Universe.
Observing location
Highly elliptical Earth orbit.
Highly elliptical Earth orbit.
History, instruments and discoveries
The instruments
ACIS and HRC detectors, with spectroscopy gratings.
Scientific contribution
Its images and spectra reveal supernova remnants, black holes and gas in galaxy clusters.
Official sources
ESALaunch 1999
XMM-Newton
X-rays, complemented by ultraviolet and visible light.Three X-ray telescopes collect light from the hot Universe.
Observing location
Elliptical Earth orbit.
Elliptical Earth orbit.
History, instruments and discoveries
The instruments
EPIC cameras, RGS spectrometers and the OM optical monitor.
Scientific contribution
Spectra probe hot gas and matter around black holes.
Official sources
NASALaunch 2003
Spitzer
Infrared.An observatory cooled to detect infrared light from celestial objects.
Observing location
During its mission: Earth-trailing solar orbit.
During its mission: Earth-trailing solar orbit.
History, instruments and discoveries
The instruments
IRAC, IRS and MIPS; only two IRAC channels operated during the warm mission.
Scientific contribution
Its data explored forming stars, dusty galaxies and exoplanets.
Official sources
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NASA / DOE / international partnersLaunch 2008
Fermi
Gamma rays.An observatory of the most energetic cosmic light.
Observing location
Earth orbit.
Earth orbit.
History, instruments and discoveries
The instruments
Large Area Telescope (LAT) and Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM).
Scientific contribution
It explores pulsars, jets from active galaxies and gamma-ray bursts.
Official sources
ESALaunch 2009
Herschel
Far-infrared and submillimetre.Its 3.5-metre mirror observed the cold Universe, often hidden by dust.
Observing location
During its mission: orbit around Sun–Earth L2.
During its mission: orbit around Sun–Earth L2.
History, instruments and discoveries
The instruments
PACS, SPIRE and HIFI.
Scientific contribution
It studied star formation and reservoirs of gas and dust in galaxies.
Official sources
ESALaunch 2009
Planck
Microwaves through very far-infrared.An observatory designed to measure tiny variations in the cosmic microwave background.
Observing location
During its mission: orbit around Sun–Earth L2.
During its mission: orbit around Sun–Earth L2.
History, instruments and discoveries
The instruments
LFI and HFI instruments.
Scientific contribution
Its maps refined parameters describing the age, composition and evolution of the Universe.
Official sources
NASALaunch 2009
Kepler / K2
Visible light.It searched for tiny dips in starlight caused by planets crossing their stars.
Observing location
During its mission: orbit around the Sun.
During its mission: orbit around the Sun.
History, instruments and discoveries
The instruments
A photometer coupled to a Schmidt-type telescope.
Scientific contribution
Kepler showed that planetary systems are widespread in our Galaxy.
Official sources
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ESALaunch 2013
Gaia
Visible light, extending into near-infrared.An astrometry mission measuring stellar positions, distances and motions.
Observing location
During observations: orbit around Sun–Earth L2.
During observations: orbit around Sun–Earth L2.
History, instruments and discoveries
The instruments
Astrometric field, BP/RP photometers and RVS spectrometer.
Scientific contribution
Its catalogues reconstruct the Milky Way in three dimensions and reveal its dynamical history.
Official sources
NASA / MITLaunch 2018
TESS
Red visible light and near-infrared.A sky survey seeking planets that cross nearby, bright stars.
Observing location
Highly elliptical Earth orbit in resonance with the Moon.
Highly elliptical Earth orbit in resonance with the Moon.
History, instruments and discoveries
The instruments
Four wide-field cameras.
Scientific contribution
Its discoveries provide targets for measuring planetary masses and studying atmospheres.
Official sources
NASA / ESA / CSALaunch 2021
James Webb
Near- and mid-infrared.A segmented mirror and large sunshield enable infrared exploration.
Observing location
Orbit around the Sun, near Sun–Earth L2.
Orbit around the Sun, near Sun–Earth L2.
History, instruments and discoveries
The instruments
NIRCam, NIRSpec, MIRI and NIRISS.
Scientific contribution
It studies early galaxies, star formation and the composition of exoplanet atmospheres.
Official sources
ESA / Euclid Consortium / NASALaunch 2023
Euclid
Visible and near-infrared.A galaxy survey designed to understand cosmic structure and expansion.
Observing location
Orbit around Sun–Earth L2.
Orbit around Sun–Earth L2.
History, instruments and discoveries
The instruments
VIS camera and NISP spectrometer-photometer.
Scientific contribution
Galaxy shapes and distributions test the effects of dark matter and dark energy.
Official sources
Selected historical and modern missions. Locations describe their observing orbits, not real-time tracking. The filter uses a main band; several missions cover multiple bands.
Images resized for the web. Credits, sources and licences appear below each image.