A primitive supermassive black hole. The Spitzer Space Telescope (formerly the Space Infrared Telescope Facility or SIRTF) was the fourth and last of NASA’s “Great Observatories,” after the Hubble Space Telescope (launched in 1990), the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (1991), and the Chandra X-Ray Observatory (1999). Spitzer's list of accomplishments is long, but here are a few highlights of discoveries made possible by this space-based, infrared-only telescope. This remarkable spacecraft has made discoveries its designers never even imagined, including some of the seven Earth-size planets of TRAPPIST-1.Here are some key facts about Spitzer: NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has spent 15 years in space.In honor of this anniversary, 15 of Spitzer's greatest discoveries are featured in a gallery. Image courtesy NASA/JPL-Caltech To understand the significance of the Spitzer Space Telescope on the understanding of our solar system , think of what the steam engine meant for the industrial revolution. In the fall of 2016, Spitzer spotted 5 out of the 7 rocky worlds orbiting the star TRAPPIST-1 . 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. NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope is celebrating 15 years since its launch on August 25, 2003. By Erika K. Carlson Jan 29, 2020 2:00 PM. For 16 years, the Spitzer Space Telescope functioned perfectly. The Spitzer Space Telescope made many important discoveries in the solar system during its 16 year-long mission. Beyond its discoveries, Spitzer is also a pathfinder for Webb in terms of how to operate a telescope of this kind. Following up on the Spitzer discovery, NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has initiated the screening of four of the planets, including the three inside the habitable zone. Exoplanet Discoveries. The new belt lies at the far reaches of the Saturnian system, with an orbit tilted 27 degrees from the main ring plane. The forthcoming telescope will be able to push Spitzer's science findings to new frontiers, from identifying chemicals in exoplanet atmospheres to locating some of the first galaxies to form after the Big Bang. Spitzer's Greatest Hits. Spitzer discovered a whole solar system of potentially habitable Earth-like worlds. With data gathered from the Spitzer Space Telescope, they discovered a bar structure at the core of the galaxy. PASADENA, Calif. -- NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has discovered an enormous ring around Saturn -- by far the largest of the giant planet's many rings. 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