The first image of the $ 10 billion James Webb space telescope was released Monday in the White House, a bend in distant galaxies that delved deeper into the cosmos than humanity has ever seen.
The four additional photos posted on Tuesday (Wednesday morning AEST) included more photos of cosmic beauty.
This image published by NASA shows the edge of a nearby, young star-forming region NGC 3324 in the Carina Nebula. Captured in infrared light by the near-infrared camera (NIRCam) on the James Webb Space Telescope, this image reveals previously darkened areas of star birth, according to NASA. (AP) This image published by NASA shows the southern ring nebula for the first time with medium infrared light. It is a hot, dense white dwarf star. (AP)
With one exception, the latest images showed parts of the universe seen by other telescopes. But Webb’s great power, the distant location of the Earth, and the use of the infrared light spectrum showed them a new light.
“Each image is a new discovery and each will give humanity a vision of humanity we’ve never seen before,” NASA administrator Bill Nelson said Tuesday, rhapsodizing images showing “star formation.” , devouring black holes “.
Webb’s use of the infrared light spectrum allows the telescope to see through cosmic dust and “see the light of distant light from the corners of the universe,” he said.
“We have really changed the understanding of our universe,” said European Space Agency Director-General Josef Aschbacher.
This image provided by NASA shows the Stephan Quintet, a visual cluster of five galaxies captured by the Near Infrared Camera (NIRCam) and the Medium Infrared Instrument (MIRI) from the Webb Telescope. This mosaic was built from almost 1000 separate image files. (AP)
European and Canadian space agencies teamed up with NASA to build the powerful telescope.
– The southern ring nebula, sometimes called the “eight bursts.” About 2500 light-years away, it shows an expanding cloud of gas surrounding a dying star. A light year is 5.8 trillion miles.
– Carina Nebula, one of the brightest stellar nurseries in the sky, about 7600 light-years away.
– Five galaxies in a cosmic dance, 290 million light-years away. Stephan’s Quintet was first seen 225 years ago in the constellation Pegasus.
– A blue giant planet called WASP-96b. It is the size of Saturn and is 1150 light-years away. A gaseous planet is not a candidate for life elsewhere, but a key target for astronomers.
This combination of images provided by NASA shows a side-by-side comparison of the southern ring nebula in near-infrared light (left) and mid-infrared light (right), taken by the Webb telescope. (AP)
The images were posted one by one at an event at NASA’s Goddard Space Center that included cheerleaders with pompoms the color of the telescope’s golden mirrors.
The largest and most powerful space telescope in the world was launched last December from French Guiana to South America. It reached its viewpoint 1.6 million kilometers from Earth in January.
Then began the long process of aligning the mirrors, the infrared detectors cold enough to operate and calibrate scientific instruments, all protected by a parasol the size of a tennis court that keeps the telescope cool.
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Webb is considered the successor to the hugely successful, but aging, Hubble Space Telescope.