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The Fine Guidance Sensor (FGS) is an optical sensor used on the Hubble Space
Telescope to provide pointing information for the spacecraft and
also as a scientific instrument for astrometric science.
A FGS consists of a large structure housing a
collection of mirrors, lenses, servos, prisms,
beam-splitters and photomultiplier tubes
There are three fine guidance sensors on
Hubble located at 90-degree intervals around the
circumference of the telescope. Two FGSs are
used to point the telescope at an astronomical target
and hold that target in the scientific instrument's
field of view. The third FGS can then be used as a scientific
instrument for astrometry.
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