Early December 25th, 2021, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope began its long journey into the past. For nearly a month it traveled to a point about 907,500 miles away, called Lagrange Point Two. On January 24, 2022, the most powerful telescope finally reached its destination.
“Webb, welcome home!” NASA’s Administrator Bill Nelson in a statement. “Congratulations to the team for all of their hard work ensuring Webb’s safe arrival at L2 today. We’re one step closer to uncovering the mysteries of the universe. And I can’t wait to see Webb’s first new views of the universe this summer!”
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is the introduction to a new era of astronomy. Costing about $10 billion, the 30-year long project is the most expensive and complex telescope to ever exist. Younger generations seeing this breakthrough in space science is extraordinary, especially for students interested in astronomy and astrophysics.
After its arrival, the telescope aligned its 18 hexagonal-shaped mirrors, and began to cool, as the instruments must be cold before beginning its observation of the universe. The telescope now begins its three-month alignment process. On February 3, 2022, the telescope even saw its first photons of starlight! While the telescope will take photos for the whole process, any photos received will be blurry until completion.
Unlike the famous Hubble telescope, the JWST will be able to view new objects crucial to scientists. It might even be able to view Population III stars, which are stars formed from primordial material from the Big Bang and consist of virtually no metals, which have never been seen before. Viewing such would give astronomers an opportunity to learn more regarding the origins of the solar system and the building blocks of the universe. The JWST also views the universe through infrared light, allowing it to see through the thick clouds of dust that surround younger stars. This allows observation in the formation of stars and galaxies.
The James Webb Space Telescope also has plans to study exoplanet habitability. It will be able to see down into planets’ atmospheres and possibly even reveal the molecules contained on the planet. The goal is to find another Earth-like planet, but the telescope will mainly study gas giants similar to the ones in our solar system: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
This telescope is the next step in the puzzle of the universe, and scientists just have to wait to put it together. Between its in-depth technology and its amazing construction, this telescope is not a replacement for the Hubble, but instead the Hubble’s successor. Students and professors as well as the science community are all interested in these future breakthroughs imminent with its photographs.
