The Greatest Discoveries from the Spitzer Space Telescope

As NASA's orbiting infrared observatory shuts down, we look back at some of its most important finds.

By Erika K. Carlson
Jan 29, 2020 8:00 PMJan 29, 2020 8:50 PM
PIA12966 modest
A primitive supermassive black hole. The far-away objects were one of the many targets for the Spitzer Space Telescope during its 16 years of observation. (Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)

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The Spitzer Space Telescope is one of NASA’s “Great Observatories” designed to examine the universe over a broad range of wavelengths of light. Launched in 2003, Spitzer has scanned the skies in infrared light for 16 years. 

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