Video formats

The animations and videos can be downloaded in different sizes and qualities:

Format Dimensions SD [pixels] (4:3) Dimensions HD
[pixels] (16:9)
Field/Frame Rate [fps] File type Encoded today Bitrate (kbit/s)
Directory Other info
Small
Small Flash 320 x 240 320 x 180 25 .flv     small_flash Flash 8 encoded, low quality small preview file.
Small QT 320 x 240 320 x 180 25 .mov     small_qt QuickTime H.264. Fast start.
Medium
Video Podcast 640 x 480 640 x 360 SD:25, HD:50 .m4v * 1500 medium_podcast QuickTime H.264 encoded. It can be watched with any hardware, Apple iPod included, or in any program that reads files in .m4v format.
Medium MPEG-1 640 x 480 640 x 360 25 .mpeg * 3000 medium_mpeg1 MPEG-1 encoded, good quality, medium file for download (suitable for PowerPoint).
Medium Flash 640 x 480 640 x 360 25 .flv * 1500 medium_flash Flash 8 encoded
Large
Large QT 768 x 576 720 x 405 25 .mov * 2000 large_qt QuickTime, H.264. Fast start.
Broadcast SD 768 x 576, 4:3 interlaced 720 x 576, 16:9 Anamorphic (plays full screen on a 16:9 display 25 .mxf, .avi * 30 000 broadcast_sd MXF-HD source, DV Type 2 SD-Source
HD HD & Apple TV Preview N/A 1280 x 720 25 .m4v * 5000 hd_and_apple MPEG4 H.264. Suitable for Apple TV. Fast start, .m4v
Full HD Preview 1080p N/A 1920 x 1080 25 .mp4 *  7000 hd_1080p25_screen MPEG 4 h264
Full HD Broadcast 1080p N/A 1440 x 1080, 1920 x 1080 25 .avi, .mxf, .mov * 7200 000 hd_1080p25_broadcast Grass Valley HQX codec in an AVI wrappe. This file format is for broadcasters and the files can be imported by non-linear editing systems and edited.
Ultra HD 4K Ultra HD Preview H.264 N/A 3840 x 2160 25 .mp4 * 20 000 ultra_hd MPEG4 H.264
4K Ultra HD Preview H.265 N/A 3840 x 2160 25 .mp4 * 30 000 ultra_hd_h265 MPEG4 H.265, high quality (only offered in special cases, playable in latest DivX player)
4K Ultra HD Broadcast N/A 3840 x 2160 25 .avi * 7200 000 ultra_hd_broadcast Grass Valley HQX codec in an AVI wrapper
Dome Fulldome Preview N/A 1024 x 1024 30 .mp4 * 12 000 dome_preview MPEG4 H.264
Fulldome 1.5k mov N/A 1536 x 1536 30 .mov *  15 000 dome_mov QuickTime, H.264
Fulldome 2k Master N/A 2048 x 2048 30 .jpgs. Zipped with Winzip * ~230 000 dome_2kmaster For planetarium use only (lightly compressed zipped single frames). The dome masters can be downloaded and sliced into the configuration that suits the individual planetarium. Only supplied for long clips or shows.
Note: 1. Do not use Windows' built-in unzipper as it produces random frames (due to its default security settings). 2. As no network or browser is 100% stable, we strongly recommend using a download manager (like Free Download Manager1 or the command line tool aria2).
Fulldome 4k Master N/A 4096 x 4096 (or best available) 30 (sometimes 25) .jpgs. Zipped with Winzip *  ~1 000 000 dome_4kmaster For planetarium use only (lightly compressed zipped single frames). The dome masters can be downloaded and sliced into the configuration that suits the individual planetarium. Only supplied for long clips or shows.
Note: 1. Do not use Windows' built-in unzipper as it produces random frames (due to its default security settings). 2. As no network or browser is 100% stable, we strongly recommend using a download manager (like Free Download Manager1 or the command line tool aria2).
Fulldome 8k Master N/A 8192 x 8192 30 .jpgs. Zipped with Winzip. * ~1000 000 dome_8kmaster  For planetarium use only (lightly compressed single frames), Produced with a 180 degrees fish-eye camera, or a standard 5 camera rig stitched together to a dome master. The dome masters can be downloaded and sliced into the configuration that suits the individual planetarium.

1 In Free Download Manager we recommend setting: Options -> Settings -> Downloads -> New Download -> Advanced -> Connection: unclick "Maximum number of attempts" (to have infinite numbers of reconnection attempts). And please double-check that you have enough free disk space where you're saving. With this solution we believe that even up to 400 GB large files can be taken down on a personal DSL16000 line (at 1.8 MB/s) over a weekend in Europe. We are working on solving the slower delivery to more distant locations.

 

On these pages, you find overviews of some of Hubble video clips produced by the ESA/Hubble.

The animations can be downloaded in different sizes and qualities.


Notes:

Everything is free for you to use as long as you follow the simple rules in our Copyright info.

 

Comparison chart

Below you can compare the relation between the different provided video formats. The "4K" (i.e. "Ultra HD"), is equivalent to a horizontal resolution on the order of 4000 pixels.

Comparison chart

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