STIS stands for Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph.

STIS separates ultraviolet and optical light into their component colors, giving scientists much-needed information about an object's composition, temperature, motion and other chemical and physical properties.

The instrument was developed by Goddard Space Flight Center's Laboratory for Astronomy and Solar Physics. The principal investigator was Dr. Bruce E. Woodgate.

Find out more from HubbleSite:

• Read about STIS in Nuts & Bolts.