It was also intended to help with focusing the telescope. The image, taken using Hubble's Wide Field Planetary Camera and released May 20, 1990, demonstrate Hubble's improved visibility compared with observatories on Earth, where the atmosphere can obstruct the view.
On the left is an image of the same patch of the sky taken by a ground-based telescope. On the right is the first image Hubble ever took, which focused on the 8.2-magnitude star HD96755 in the star cluster NGC 3532.
Persson/Las Campanas Observatory/Observatories of the Carnegie Institution of Washington Right: NASA/ESA/STScI) First Lightīefore Hubble could start capturing incredible pictures of the universe, the telescope's first order of business was to test out its instruments and make sure everything was in working order.
