We’re just 12 days away from seeing the first full-color scientific images from NASA’s incredible $ 10B James Webb Space Telescope. As the excitement builds, NASA suggests that the first images will be the beginning of what we can expect to see from the web.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in a media briefing earlier this week, ‘This is much more than humanity has ever seen before. ‘We’re just beginning to understand what the web can and will do.’
To recap, the web was launched last December and went through extensive testing (https://www.dpreview.com/news/7026993143/james-webb-space-telescope-sees-its-first-star-using-all -18-of-its-primary-mirror-segment) since reaching the second Lagrange point (L2).
Although we do not know exactly what we will see when the first images are unveiled at 10:30 AM ET on July 12, Thomas Zuberchen, Associate Administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Department, confirmed that ‘images of the atmospheric spectrum of an exoplanet will be with the public on July 12 Shared, ‘ Per TechCrunch. The web’s ability to capture infrared spectrum allows it to detect even small molecules in the atmosphere of the exoplanet, which means it can unlock a greater understanding of the potential of different planets for web life.
NASA has also confirmed that its estimates for the web’s fuel capacity were correct and that JWST will be able to take pictures of space for about 20 years. “Not only will those 20 years go deeper into our history and time, but we will be able to go deeper into science because we will have the opportunity to learn and grow and make new observations,” said NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy.
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| Image Credit: NASA / STScI |
Some other news has come out since we last checked in with the web. On June 23, NASA released aSelfie‘The web is captured using a special pupil imaging lens inside the web’s Near Infrared Camera (NIRCam). The specialized lens is designed to assist in mirror alignment, but as you can see above, it is also useful for a self-portrait of the 18 primary mirror parts of the web.
Today, NASA Announcement That web is good to go mid-infrared instrument (MIRI) and its final post-launch preparations are over. NASA wrote, ‘It’s over MIRI mode Its chronographic imaging capability has been checked, using two different styles of masks to prevent its sensors from hitting its sensors intentionally while trying to observe the orbits of the star. These customized masks allow scientists to directly detect exoplanets and study dust disks around their host stars in a way that has never been done before.
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‘We are thrilled that MIRI is now a functional, sophisticated instrument with all the capabilities expected to perform better. Our multinational commissioning team has done a great job of preparing MIRI in just a few weeks. Now we celebrate all the people, scientists, engineers, managers, national agencies, ESA, and NASA who have made this device a reality because MIRI has begun to explore the infrared universe in a way and depth that has never been achieved before, “said Gillian Wright. George Ricky, MIRI European Chief Investigator at the UK Astronomy Technology Center and Head of MIRI Science at the University of Arizona. MIRI is a joint effort between NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA).
After many years of hard work, the web team is very close to releasing its first picture. To follow the countdown, Click here.
