Since the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope in 1990, space telescopes have revolutionized our view of the universe. These most powerful of tools—positioned above Earth’s atmosphere—are enabling astronomers to gaze further into space, taking pictures of galaxies, stars, and even planets with breathtaking precision.
But even though most people imagine space telescopes as instruments for viewing far-away galaxies, their function in monitoring our own solar system is equally significant.
As new space telescopes become reality and orbit the Earth, a new era is emerging—one in which our ability to investigate the planets, moons, asteroids, and other objects in our solar neighborhood is being revolutionized.
Let us take a peek at how space telescopes are revolutionizing our understanding of the solar system, and what the future holds for these “eyes in the sky”
Why Space Telescopes Are Important to Solar System Science
While earth-orbital telescopes remain in the atmosphere of our planet, which scatters or absorbs some of the wavelengths of light, space telescopes orbit above this interference. From this position, they can take uncluttered, unobstructed photographs across much of the electromagnetic spectrum—visible, ultraviolet, and infrared light.
Applied to the science of the solar system, it translates to :
Better look at planets and moons
Better measurements of atmospheres and surface chemistry
Better viewing of dynamic effects, like Jupiter storms or Enceladus geysers
Long-term monitoring without atmospheric distortion is also possible with space telescopes, and researchers can observe how objects within the solar system evolve over the years.
Hubble : A Pioneer Beyond Galaxies
Hubble Space Telescope, forever to be admired at its deep-space photos, has also been very helpful in viewing the solar system. Hubble has
Captured high-resolution photos of Jupiter storms and auroras
Monitored comet impacts, such as the Shoemaker-Levy 9 impact on Jupiter in 1994
Observed Martian seasonal variations
Made new moon discoveries orbiting Pluto
Assisted in the detection of water vapor on distant moons
Even after two decades of launch, Hubble still makes significant contributions to planetary science with high resolution imaging and multi-wavelength information.
James Webb Space Telescope: A New Vision
Released in December 2021, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is the next generation of telescopes in space. While built first and foremost for deep-space observation—observing the first galaxies to emerge after the Big Bang—it’s also turning out to be a fantastic tool to examine our solar system.
Why JWST Is Revolutionary for Solar System Observations
Infrared Sensitivity
Dedicated to infrared light, JWST is capable of:
Seeing past dust clouds
Discover heat signatures of cold, faraway bodies such as Kuiper Belt objects
Investigate chemical makeup of planetary atmospheres
High-Resolution Spectroscopy
Sensors aboard JWST can sense molecular signs in the atmospheres of Mars, Titan, and even comets—giving clues to the origins of life.
Observing Distant, Dim Objects
It can examine small moons, asteroids, and icy bodies far beyond Pluto with unprecedented accuracy.
In its first year of life, JWST already has started to observe Jupiter’s rings, aurora, and even asteroid belts, with new surprising details that contradict our existing theories.
The Roman Space Telescope: A Great Wide-Angle Lens
NASA’s upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope (launching in the mid-2020s) will provide a wide-field view of space—hundreds of times wider than Hubble.
Key Features :
Gigantic Field of View
Perfect for monitoring of mobile solar system bodies such as asteroids, comets, and trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs).
High-Speed Imaging
Able to make quick surveys of big chunks of sky, assisting astronomers to discover and classify new solar system objects.
Dark Energy Study + Solar System Bonus
Although intended primarily to observe dark energy and exoplanets, Roman’s large field of view and good imaging will also make it the perfect instrument for new minor planet discoveries.
The Roman Telescope will be able to detect thousands of fainter, yet-to-be-discovered solar system bodies, further enriching knowledge of the Martian to Neptunian space.
European and International Contributions
It’s not only NASA. International space agencies are also building next-generation space telescopes that will advance solar system science.
Examples Include :
ESA’s ARIEL (Atmospheric Remote-sensing Infrared Exoplanet Large-survey): This 2029 telescope is largely dedicated to the research of exoplanets but will have its infrared functionality available for the research of small solar system atmospheres.
China’s Xuntian Space Telescope: “China’s Hubble,” it will be divided with usage for the Tiangong space station and potentially available for the research of the solar system when it is not used for observing galaxy and star clusters.
LUVOIR (Large UV/Optical/IR Surveyor): A NASA Flagship mission concept that would deliver high-resolution multi-wavelength observation ideally appropriate for the investigation of planetary weather patterns and surface morphology.
A Focus on Planetary Atmospheres
One of the most thrilling fields where space telescopes are breaking new ground is exploring planetary atmospheres. These include solar system planets such as Venus, Mars, and the gas giants, as well as moons such as Earth’s Titan, Jupiter’s Europa, and Neptune’s Triton.
With spectroscopy, telescopes such as JWST can identify major molecules such as :
Methane
Carbon dioxide
Water vapor
Ammonia
Oxygen (at very low levels)
This aids researchers in knowing climate patterns, greenhouse effects, and even possible indicators of habitability on dwarf planets and moons.
Telescopes as Planetary Defense Measures
Apart from scientific research, space telescopes also serve the purpose of planetary defense. Telescopes like NEOWISE have played a pivotal role in the detection of potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs).
Future missions like NEO Surveyor, set to launch in 2027, will be committed to:
Discovering and monitoring near-Earth objects
Getting their size, speed, and possibilities of collision
Making the early warning systems more effective for possible collisions
With improved detection from space, scientists will have the ability to develop improved strategies for defending Earth against asteroid threat.
Seeing the Brink of the Solar System
The Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud harbor some of the solar system’s most remote and cryptic objects. These icy bodies are remnants of the early solar system and could hold the secret to planetary creation.
New space telescopes, with improved infrared capabilities, will enable us to:
Obtain dwarf planets such as Eris, Makemake, and Haumea
Investigate Oort Cloud origin comets
Discover new, far-off planetary candidates past Neptune
Such discoveries may reshape the boundaries of solar systems and their past.
A New Generation of “Eyes”
The next decade will feature a constellation of space telescopes, all synchronized to offer distinct capabilities:
Hubble and JWST sharing complementary visions in UV and infrared
Roman sweeping wide areas with precision
NEO Surveyor keeping watch on dangers on the horizon
Telescopes yet to come homing in on specific planetary targets
Individually and collectively, they will provide an eye on the solar system—offering scientists and the general public real-time viewing of high-resolution information about the changing dynamics of our cosmic neighborhood.
Conclusion : Eyes on the Future
Space telescopes have already revolutionized how we see the universe. But their use in the observation of our solar system is increasingly taking precedence.
With every fresh tool being launched into space, we understand the intricate behaviors of the Sun, planets, moons, and small bodies with clearer understanding, deeper comprehension, and broader vision.
From monitoring Martian dust storms to unraveling the chemistry of comets at the solar system’s outer reaches, these orbiting telescopes are assisting us in writing the next chapter of planetary science.
And as the capabilities improve, they could be the first to catch sight of new worlds—or even evidence of life—within our solar system.
