The James Webb Space Telescope – Window into the past

 

The recent deployment of the JWST has caused a lot of excitement among the astronomers and space scientists as well as space observers. The JWST marks the beginning of an era of space exploration which promises to change our understanding of the universe.

The JWST is designed to observe the universe in the infrared spectrum. With its advanced instruments, it is expected to help observe objects which are very distant and therefore very faint, that the Hubble was not able to detect. This program is led by NASA, with support from the ESA (European Space Agency) and the CSA (Canadian Space Agency). The cost of the telescope is about $ 10b.

The deployment of the telescope was a controlled ballet. The unfolding of the Sunshield, the Mirror Segments, Checking of the Instrument Mode, Calibration, and so on. On July 12^th the first images were received from the instrument and it stunned the world. What this instrument promises is not comparable to whatever was observed earlier by the Hubble or any other instrument.

Scientists expect to use the JWST to look into the past of the universe. Its formation after the Big Bang. Observe distant galaxies, identify habitable planets, emissions from black holes, Supernovas and other celestial bodies and even look for aliens.

This telescope can see objects that are 13.6 billion lightyears away. If we calculate the time taken by light from these objects to reach the earth, it gives scientists a window into the past of the universe. In its first week itself, the telescope has helped to observe galaxies which are 100 million years older than anything observed earlier, which is a record. This telescope is going to create a new generation of science.

The JWST has observed galaxy clusters in which galaxies are recovering from collision with other galaxies. That means scientists are now able see the formation of the universe as it happened after the Big Bang. This is unprecedented.

By observing the wavelength of light emitted from distant stars and planets scientists are able to learn their chemical composition. This tells them if an orbiting planet has oxygen, carbon or other elements to support life.

There is no doubt that the JWST is going to push the boundaries of space exploration. It will help to unlock the secrets of the universe as never before and throw up surprises very often. 

The James Webb Space Telescope – Window into the past