Satellite photos are amazing!

one key fact
Vantor (previously known as Maxar Intelligence) operates six WorldView 
Legion satellites, all of which orbit at the same general altitude — 
around 322 miles (518 km) above Earth. The sharp-eyed spacecraft can 
resolve features as small as 11.8 inches (30 cm) on their home planet.

from
https://www.space.com/astronomy/hubble-space-telescope/satellite-snaps-amazing-36th-birthday-pic-of-hubble-space-telescope-photo

Satellite snaps amazing 36th birthday pic of Hubble Space Telescope (photo)
News
By Mike Wall published 2 days ago
It's a rare treat to see Hubble up close.


closeup satellite photo of the hubble space telescope, showing it as a 
shiny silver cylinder with two small solar wings
Vantor's WorldView Legion 4 satellite captured this photo of the Hubble 
Space Telescope on April 23, 2026, from a distance of 38.4 miles (61.8 
kilometers). (Image credit: Vantor)

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NASA's Hubble Space Telescope was on the receiving end of an amazing 
space photo for a change.

On Friday (April 24), Hubble's 36th birthday, the Colorado-based spatial 
intelligence company Vantor published a stunning, close-up shot of the 
telescope that was taken the day before by one of its WorldView Legion 
Earth-observing satellites.

"Celebrating 36 years of discovery with the Hubble Space Telescope," 
Vantor wrote in an X post that shared the photo. "For over three 
decades, Hubble has expanded our understanding of the universe 
—delivering breathtaking imagery and groundbreaking science that 
continue to inspire. Proud to support the technologies and teams that 
make moments like this possible."

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The post also gives some details about the image and Hubble itself, 
which launched to low Earth orbit (LEO) aboard the space shuttle 
Discovery on April 24, 1990.

For example, the in-space photo was taken from just 34.8 miles (61.8 
kilometers) away, providing "an incredible perspective of one of 
humanity’s most iconic scientific instruments," the X post reads. "With 
a space sample distance of 4.0 cm [1.6 inches], Hubble’s signature 
cylindrical body, gleaming thermal shielding, and extended solar arrays 
are clearly visible, along with the open aperture door at the front of 
the telescope."

Vantor (previously known as Maxar Intelligence) operates six WorldView 
Legion satellites, all of which orbit at the same general altitude — 
around 322 miles (518 km) above Earth. The sharp-eyed spacecraft can 
resolve features as small as 11.8 inches (30 cm) on their home planet.

The new Hubble shot was captured by WorldView Legion 4, a Vantor 
spokesperson told Space.com via email. That satellite reached orbit atop 
a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in August 2024, along with WorldView Legion 3. 
(The other four rode to space on Falcon 9s in May 2024 and February 
2025, with two satellites going up on each launch.)

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