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In astronomy
Astronomy

Astronomy is the science of Astronomical object and Phenomenon that originate outside the Earth's atmosphere . It is concerned with the evolution, physics, chemistry, meteorology, and motion of celestial objects, as well as the physical cosmology....
, first light is when a telescope
Telescope

A telescope is an instrument designed for the observation of remote objects by the collection of electromagnetic radiation. The first known practically functioning telescopes were invented in the Netherlands at the beginning of the 17th century....
 (or, in general, a new instrument) is first used to take an astronomical
Astronomy

Astronomy is the science of Astronomical object and Phenomenon that originate outside the Earth's atmosphere . It is concerned with the evolution, physics, chemistry, meteorology, and motion of celestial objects, as well as the physical cosmology....
 image after it has been constructed. This is not often the first viewing using the telescope; optical tests have likely already been performed during daylight to adjust the components.






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Hubble First Light
In astronomy
Astronomy

Astronomy is the science of Astronomical object and Phenomenon that originate outside the Earth's atmosphere . It is concerned with the evolution, physics, chemistry, meteorology, and motion of celestial objects, as well as the physical cosmology....
, first light is when a telescope
Telescope

A telescope is an instrument designed for the observation of remote objects by the collection of electromagnetic radiation. The first known practically functioning telescopes were invented in the Netherlands at the beginning of the 17th century....
 (or, in general, a new instrument) is first used to take an astronomical
Astronomy

Astronomy is the science of Astronomical object and Phenomenon that originate outside the Earth's atmosphere . It is concerned with the evolution, physics, chemistry, meteorology, and motion of celestial objects, as well as the physical cosmology....
 image after it has been constructed. This is not often the first viewing using the telescope; optical tests have likely already been performed during daylight to adjust the components. The first light image is normally of little scientific interest and is of poor quality since the various telescope elements must be adjusted for optimum efficiency. Usually, a well-known and spectacular astronomical object
Astronomical object

s are significant entity, associations or structures which current science has confirmed to exist in outer space. This does not necessarily mean that more current science will not disprove their existence....
 is chosen. Despite this, a first light is always a moment of great excitement, both for the people who designed and built the telescope, and for the astronomical community.

For example, the then-new 200-inch Hale saw first light January 26, 1949, targeting NGC 2261
NGC 2261

NGC 2261 is a variable nebula located in the constellation Monoceros.It was viewed by Palomar Observatory's Hale Telescope's First light by Edwin Hubble January 26, 1949....
. under the direction of American astronomer Edwin Powell Hubble, which was published in many magazines.

The largest binocular telescope, the largest optical reflecting telescope in many areas, the Large Binocular Telescope
Large Binocular Telescope

The Large Binocular Telescope is located on 10,700-foot Mount Graham in the Pinaleno Mountains of southeastern Arizona and is a part of the Mount Graham International Observatory....
, had its first light with a single primary mirror on October 12, 2005 which viewed NGC 891
NGC 891

NGC 891 is an edge on unbarred spiral galaxy about 1 E23 m light-years away in the constellation Andromeda . It was discovered by William Herschel in August 1783....
. The second primary mirror was installed in January 2006 and became fully operational in January 2008.

In cosmology
Cosmology

Cosmology is study of the Universe in its totality, and by extension, humanity's place in it. Though the word cosmology is recent , study of the Universe has a long history involving science, philosophy, esotericism, and religion....
, first light refers to the light emission from the first generation of stars, formed less than a billion years after the big bang
Big Bang

The Big Bang is the physical cosmology model of the initial conditions and subsequent development of the universe supported by the most comprehensive and accurate explanations from current scientific method and observation....
.