The Hubble Space Telescope is well known for its picturesque views of nebulae and galaxies, but it’s also useful for studying our own planets, including Mars. Hubble snapped a close-up of the Red Planet ahead of its opposition on May 22. That means that the sun and mars will be on exact opposite sides of the Earth. Hubble’s view reveals Mars as a dynamic seasonal planet with bright, frosty polar caps and clouds above a vivid, rust-colored landscape. Details: http://go.nasa.gov/1TjWUVV | NASA - N

11K views · 385 reactions | On this day in 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope was released into orbit over 500km above the Earth and today is one of the most celebrated science instruments in history. Happy Birthday, Hubble! | National Geographic Canada | Facebook