“The dawn of a new era in astronomy began as the planet first sees the full capabilities of the space telescope. James Webb”, NASA said yesterday, after releasing the other first four images captured by the most powerful observatory “that will solve mysteries of our solar system, see beyond distant worlds around other stars and explore the mysterious structures and origins of the universe and our place in it.”
james webb is an international program led by the United States with its partners from the European and Canadian space agencies (ESA and CSA, respectively).
“Each image is a new discovery,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “Each one will give humanity a view of the universe that we have never seen before,” he added during the presentation of full-color photographs and spectroscopic data from the telescope, in a broadcast on television, platforms and social networks of the office. He noted: “The plates show the james webb at full power, ready to begin its mission to unfold the infrared universe.”
The graphics mark the official start of operations and were selected by an international committee of representatives from NASA, ESA, CSA and the Space Telescope Science Institute.
Last Monday the first image was revealed, which shows the early universe more clearly to date, dating back about 13 billion years. It was released by Joe Biden, President of the United States. New snapshots and scientific data portray giant exoplanets, compact groups of galaxies, and the brightest known nebula.
“These images show how the webb It will help uncover the answers to questions we don’t yet know how to ask, which will help us better understand our universe and humanity’s place within it,” added Nelson.
“It’s a unique and historic moment,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate. “It took decades of will and perseverance,” said Greg Robinson, director of the program. Webb.
The beautiful diversity and incredible detail of the images and data will inspire us to dream big.
The first observations reveal the capabilities of the telescope’s four state-of-the-art science instruments.
On Monday, Biden presented the first deepest and sharpest infrared image of the distant universe to date, a small example of the ability of the james webb to study the deep fields and trace galaxies back to the beginning of cosmic time.
They also exposed the exoplanet WASP-96b, a hot and “inflated” body outside our solar system that reveals unmistakable signs of water, along with evidence of haze and clouds that had not been detected in previous studies. With its first detection of water in the atmosphere of an exoplanet, james webb now it will set out to study hundreds of other systems to understand what other planetary atmospheres are made of.
The Southern Ring Nebula, another photo, is an expanding cloud of gas surrounding a dying star, about 2,000 light-years away. Here, the powerful infrared gaze of the webb brings a second dying star into full view for the first time. From his birth to his death. The telescope can explore the layers of dust and gas that expel aging stars that may one day become a new star or planet.
The plot of Stephan’s Quintet exposes a compact group of galaxies located in the constellation of Pegasus. Scientists can now gain rare insight, in unprecedented detail, into how interacting galaxies trigger star formation and how gas is altered in these galaxies.
The look of webb The “cosmic cliffs” are seen in the image of the Carina Nebula, revealing earlier and more rapid phases of star formation that had previously been hidden. Observing that region, the webb it can see new stars developing and study the gas and dust that make them up.
“Absolutely exciting!” exclaimed John Mather, lead project scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. “The mechanical equipment works perfectly, and nature is full of amazing beauty.”
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