In 2003, NASA launched a 34-inch infrared telescope called Spitzer. For 17 years, it looked through cosmic dust and revealed a hidden universe

NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope ended its mission in 2020 after sixteen years. Its infrared observations pierced cosmic dust, revealing hidden celestial objects. Spitzer captured direct light from extrasolar planets and mapped weather patterns. It identified the TRAPPIST-1 system with seven Earth-sized planets. The telescope's legacy continues through ongoing data analysis and research.