Expert: Ed - 9/8/2005

Question
Dear Ed,
Could you please help me with this?
I have heard that Hubble works simultaneously with other scopes in various wavelengths. Do you know anything about this?
Moreover based on the information I have found on the web (I think) that the HST is the only space telescope at present which works in UV band. And I found an article (ASP Conference Series, Vol.291) written by a UV astronomer who was concerned about the future of ultraviolet astronomy and the fact that if Hubble stops working there would be no telescopes operating in this part of the spectrum. Is that true?
Finally, as you know the STIS instrument stopped working in the year 2004. Have NASA people been able to do anything to repair it yet?
Thank you,
Leila


Answer
Leila,

Yes, at times the Hubble is used together with other telescopes, for various projects.  

For example, European astronomers have combined Hubble images with observations from the ESA's (European Space Agency's) Infrared Space Observatory (ISO), and from the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE).
http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=30277

Or, here is an example of a time when the Hubble's powers were combined with the SpitzerSpace Telescope and the Chandra X-Ray Observatory.
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/newsdesk/archive/releases/2004/29/image/a

Yes, without Hubble, ultraviolet astronomy is in deep doo-doo, pardon my Latin.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3582433.stm

The STIS instrument is probably not going back online.  They're phasing it all out.  Here is a helpful website if you need more information:
http://www.stsci.edu/hst/stis/closeout_plan.html

I hope this is helpful.  Keep Looking Up!
--Ed