Space Cadets, NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope is Coming to Eastern Iowa

The skies over Iowa recently have been filled with Northern Lights on many nights and a comet, C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) that was visible with the naked eye on several days and nights.  You can read all about those and what they were doing in Iowa here. These were all events that you could look to the heavens and see with the naked eye.

If you want to reach into space even further, a telescope is a great way to go.  They run the gamut, entry-level might be a couple hundred bucks to about $10 billion.  You can read here and find out how much you need to spend on a telescope.

If you buy one for $10 billion, please let me know I'd love to take a look. Just don’t try to recruit me for your months-long treasure hunt to the West Indies. I’m not falling for that again.

I'm no space expert but if you're spending billions on a telescope you really want to see some stuff in outer space. There's a company that likes to do that very thing - NASA loves to look deep into outer space.

What Does NASA Use to See Into Space?

In 1977, NASA began development of the Hubble Space Telescope.  The space telescope was launched on April 24, 1990, and has taken spectacular images of outer space we had not seen in such clarity or even seen, well, ever,  It cost roughly $2 billion and adjusted for inflation $16 to $20 billion in 2024 dollars.  So you know, that price does not include the cost of the ride on the space shuttle for its release into space.

Some of the newest images from deep space have come from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope.  That cost is in the neighborhood of $10 billion.

How Can You See The Telescopes Up Close?

The Putnam Museum and Science Center Hosts NASA's Hubble Telescope and More

The exhibit, put together in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institute’s Traveling Exhibit team, is basically a front-row seat to the universe. According to the press release, they will be constantly getting new updates thanks to the latest mind-blowing images and tech from the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes.

But it's not all just pretty pictures (though, let's be honest, the pictures are stunning). The exhibit also features a bunch of hands-on interactives that let you mess around with the actual tools and gadgets used on these space telescopes. Ever wonder how they capture those jaw-dropping shots of stars, galaxies, and planets? You’ll get to see how it all comes together. Plus, you’ll get the inside scoop on the astronauts who had to do some serious space acrobatics to build and maintain these high-tech giants.

When Can You Experience The Hubble and James Webb Outer Space Telescopes?

NASA, Hubble Telescope: New Views of the Universe. The exhibit will be open from Saturday, November 9th through Sunday, January 26th. at the Putnam Museum and Science Center. 

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What is the Putnam Museum & Space Center?

The Museum says they are a Smithsonian Affiliate that brings to life a sense of place, time, and purpose to ignite human potential and inspire our diverse community to learn about and care for our world and all its people. For more than 150 years, guests have experienced the Putnam’s permanent exhibits ranging from Unearthing Ancient Egypt to our family-favorite science galleries, as well as an array of programs and internationally recognized traveling exhibits. The Putnam is dedicated to helping guests discover and explore in a friendly and engaging atmosphere.

For more information about events and exhibits, visit putnam.org.