This stunning spiral galaxy is Messier 100 in the constellation Coma Berenices, captured here by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope — not for the first time. Among Hubble’s most striking images of Messier 100 are a pair taken just over a month apart, before and after Servicing Mission 1, which took place 25 years ago in December 1993. After Hubble was launched, the astronomers and engineers operating the telescope found that the images it returned were fuzzy, as if it were out of focus. In fact, that was exactly what was happening. Hubble’s primary mirror functions like a satellite dish; its curved surface reflects all the light falling on it to a single focal point. However, the mirror suffered from a defect known as a spherical aberration, meaning that the light striking the edges of the mirror was not travelling to the same point as the light from the centre. The result was blurry, unfocused images. To correct this fault, a team of seven astronauts undertook the first Servicing Mission in December 1993. They installed a device named COSTAR (Corrective Optics Space Telescope Axial Replacement) on Hubble, which took account of this flaw of the mirror and allowed the scientific instruments to correct the images they received. The difference between the photos taken of Messier 100 before and after shows the remarkable effect this had, and the dramatic increase in image quality. COSTAR was in place on Hubble until Servicing Mission 4, by which time all the original instruments had been replaced. All subsequent instrumentation had corrective optics built in. This new image of Messier 100 taken with Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3), demonstrates how much better the latest generation of instruments is compared to the ones installed in Hubble after its launch and after Servicing Mission 1. Links Messier 100 shows improvements of Hubble Messier 100 seen 1993 with WFPC1 Messier 100 seen 1994 with WFPC2
Read more
Printed with the latest generation of long-lasting, vibrant inks
Each piece is carefully quality checked before dispatch
Please Note: There may be slight colour variations between on-screen previews and the finished product
Available in a range of sizes:
Every order is custom-made just for you
Read more
After placing your order, delivery typically takes 5 to 10 working days, but may take longer due to network delays.
Acrylic and Metal orders to Australia may take 10-25 working days.
As we use third-party couriers, delivery times aren’t guaranteed. Please contact our support team if you’re working to a deadline.
Canvas prints can be delivered to PO Boxes. For size limitations and more shipping details, check our help page.
Occasionally, shipping delays may occur due to circumstances beyond our control, but we’ll do our best to ensure timely delivery.
Important:
If you have any questions about shipping, contact us at [email protected].
Read more
We offer a wide range of canvas sizes and formats, from single prints to multi-panel displays. You can customise your canvas to fit any space with various dimensions available to suit your needs.
Simply choose your product, upload your photo, and customise it using our easy design tool. Add text, filters, and layouts to create a unique piece before placing your order.
We provide a variety of gifts, including photo books, mugs, cushions, metal prints, and wall collages. Each gift can be customised with your favourite photos and text for any occasion.
Yes, our personalised photo gifts are perfect for any event, including birthdays, weddings, and holidays. Customise them with photos and messages to make the gift truly special.
We offer a satisfaction guarantee on all products. If you're not happy with your order, contact us within 30 days for a reprint or refund.