The world has now seen the true potential of the James Webb Space Telescope. Astronomers around the globe can eagerly wait to examine the data collected by the telescope.
The $10 billion James Webb Space Telescope (also known by Webb or JWST) is NASA’s most powerful and capable space telescope. It was launched in December. Four instruments can be combined to collect data in 17 modes. Webb will be using these advanced sensors to see some of the first galaxies and stars to ever form in the universe. Webb can also study objects in our solar systems.
NASA released the initial science-quality images taken with the revolutionary telescope during a live NASA event on Tuesday, July 12, at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. JWST has many years of science ahead of it, and statements by some of the scientists involved in Webb provide a glimpse at the exciting work that lies ahead. Already, the first year of science observations has begun.
Klaus Pontoppidan (STScI) chief JWST scientist, stated during the event that we have already collected data for scientists who need it in the first year.
He noted that making this data accessible to the public will help unlock new discoveries.
He said that the data would be made available to the principal investigators within the next few days. Some of the data are also public. We are just moving at full speed ahead.
Pontoppidan said that Webb’s early science program schedule was selected for efficiency so that the telescope won’t have to move from one target to another.
Pontoppidan stated that the purpose of this is to ensure that more data is available from all instruments and all modes.
They are given priority because we want the community have as many data as possible, especially when they can propose again.
It is important to propose again: Webb will host annual calls to scientists to submit descriptions of what they would like to do with the observatory.
The Space Telescope Science Institute, Maryland, which runs JWST will then select science programs that it approves for each cycle of observations.
We planned everything through Cycle 1. The astronomical community was bold but not bold enough. Eric Smith, chief scientist of NASA‘s Astrophysics Division and program scientist for JWST spoke about the first year of the mission during the news conference.
It’s exciting to see what the people are planning for the second cycle.
Webb’s new scientific detail will allow for some unexpected discoveries in the second cycle that will start next summer.
We are now turning the page on several new chapters on exoplanet atmospherics, early universe and cloud formation. Rene Doyon (principal investigator of Webb’s Near Infrared Imager/Slitless Spectrograph NIRISS instrument) stated during the news conference.
We don’t know what we will find. It’s exciting.
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