Telescopes to show universe soon after Big Bang

It may not be possible to travel back in time, but seeing stars and galaxies as they looked millions or even billions of years ago is no problem thanks to telescopes, the closest thing we have to time machines. (CNN) — It may not be possible to travel back in time, but seeing stars and galaxies as they looked millions or even billions of years ago is no problem thanks to telescopes, the closest thing we have to time machines.

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Hubble reawakens, snaps image of Jupiter scar

In an unusual step, NASA scientists interrupted testing of the refurbished Hubble Space Telescope to aim the orbiter’s camera at Jupiter and capture an image of the planet’s mysterious new scar. The resulting picture, taken Thursday, is the sharpest visible-light photo of the dark spot and Hubble’s first science observation since astronauts repaired and upgraded it in May, NASA said. Earth-based telescopes have been trained on Jupiter since an amateur astronomer in Australia noticed the new mark, probably created when a small comet or asteroid plunged into Jupiter’s atmosphere and disintegrated, early Monday

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NASA astronaut first to ‘tweet’ from space

It’s not quite the achievement of a lunar landing, but astronaut Mike Massimino made Twitter history with a 139-character post to the micro-blogging site — the first person to do so from space. “From orbit: Launch was awesome!! I am feeling great, working hard, & enjoying the magnificent views, the adventure of a lifetime has begun!” he wrote at 4:30 p.m.

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Shuttle Atlantis ready for liftoff

Final preparations are under way for Monday’s scheduled launch of the space shuttle Atlantis from Kennedy Space Center in Florida in a repair mission for the Hubble Space Telescope. The countdown timeline is on target, and “Atlantis is ready to fly,” said Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, NASA’s test director. Preparations for the 2:01 p.m

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Space shuttle Discovery launch cancelled

The planned Wednesday night launch of space shuttle Discovery has been cancelled due to an apparent leak in the giant external fuel tank, the Kennedy Space Center said. The decision is the latest in a series of delays for the NASA shuttle mission. In total, the mission has been delayed for more than a month

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