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Primary mirror:
The
main mirror of the Hubble Space Telescope, measuring 2.4 meters (94.5
inches) in diameter. The primary mirror captures light from objects
in space and focuses it toward the secondary mirror.
Secondary mirror:
A smaller mirror (0.3 meters, or 12.2 inches) that redirects the light
coming from the primary mirror through a hole in the center of the primary
mirror and onward to the science instruments.
Focal plane:
Where Hubble's images are formed. The mirrors focus the starlight onto
the focal plane, which is roughly the size of a dinner plate. The light
is then picked up by the science instruments.
Corrective optics:
Corrective apparatus "worn" by each science instrument to compensate
for the imperfect shape of the primary mirror. COSTAR provided the corrective
optics for the original science instruments.
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