NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said that we are getting close to the universe exhibition, which will showcase “the deepest image of our universe” captured by the James Webb Space Telescope. Nelson made the official announcement at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore.
As planned, the high-resolution color images of the universe will be released on July 12. Nelson further emphasized that the observation is significantly deeper than any previous “deep field” image.
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, also known as Webb or JWST, is the most powerful telescope, encompassing 30 years of NASA’s efforts in formation, design, and construction.
Previously, this gigantic space telescope project experienced soaring budgets and constant launch delays. The telescope was successfully launched into space in December 2021, after multiple delays, technical issues, and other significant challenges.
The 10-billion-dollar telescope orbits the Sun at 1.6 million kilometers from Earth, which is significantly farther than the renowned Hubble telescope. Hubble has only been in Earth’s orbit at an altitude of around 610 kilometers since 1990.
The James Webb Space Telescope has a huge mirror, which is its distinguishing feature. It specializes in the observation of infrared light, helping scientists to explore the origins of the universe.
The telescope’s exceptional capabilities represent a tremendous step forward in human space exploration.
NASA Deputy Director Pam Melroy stated that without the help of the partner business Arianespace, the operation of Webb could not be stable and long-lasting for 20 years. The telescope was launched on an Ariane 5 rocket from the European Space Agency’s launch station in Kourou, French Guiana. The rocket was developed and operated by Arianespace for the ESA.
Melroy expressed delight in the initiative, adding that the past 20 years have allowed humans to not only delve deeper into history and time, but also farther into science since we have had the ability to study, evolve, and make observations.
We are only a few days away from the image release date of July 12. In addition, NASA will release James Webb’s first spectroscopic image of an exoplanet.
Image Credit: NASA, CSA, and FGS team
