Math Error Delays First Hubble Pictures

A simple mistake in arithmetic--an addition instead of a subtraction--caused the Hubble Space Telescope to miss its target stars and point to the wrong spot in the heavens, scientists said Wednesday.

The telescope missed its target by about one half of a degree, or about the width of a full moon as seen from Earth.

Because of the math error and other problems, scientists won’t be able to take the first star pictures with the telescope until next week, NASA said.

When the Hubble was launched on April 25, they expected the first picture within a week.

The telescope was looking for two stars of a certain brightness in the star cluster, but failed. Such guide stars are necessary to tell the telescope precisely where it is pointing, and without them it is disoriented.