James Webb space telescope and the future
The James Webb Space Telescope and its impact on
astronomy and beyond
Many of the fundamental problems that have occupied astronomers over the last 50 years will be addressed by the James Webb Space Telescope.
It is one of the most expensive engineering projects ever attempted, costing $10 billion.
But many things need to come together perfectly for it to live up to its promise, which is nothing less than to completely alter the course of the cosmos and the place of mankind within it.
- The James Webb Telescope has impressive power.
It is the largest, most powerful telescope that has ever been sent into space. Large telescopes are available on Earth, but there are none of this kind and sophistication in space. It is without a doubt the most potent item in existence.
The Webb is Hubble’s replacement and is 100 times more powerful. The Webb telescope says that it also has a far larger mirror than Hubble does. Webb can see further into the past than Hubble because of its greater light-collecting area. Webb will be 1.5 million kilometres from the earth while Hubble will be in a very close orbit.
2. It functions as a kind of time machine.
When Hubble was fully operational, it was able to observe young galaxies.
For the first time, we will be able to see back in time to the very first elements of the universe with the Webb.
We will also be able to describe distant exoplanets orbiting other stars for the first time, determining whether or not they have oceans, atmospheres, or certain chemical elements.
3. It will enable us to map the cosmos.
The Webb telescope can begin to map out that area and say, “That may be an ocean there,” which provides us a road map to go further and truly examine. It cannot definitively tell if there is life on a planet or not.
Webb will observe the cosmos in the infrared, which is crucial because freshly formed stars and planets are shrouded in dust that filters visible light but allows for the passage of infrared light.
4. It may also assist us in locating the new Earth.
It can look into the nature of the universe’s dark energy and comprehend the characteristics of these really old items.
We can also determine whether there is an additional Earth by describing planets surrounding other suns.
In addition, the Webb will help with the search for exoplanets, which Hubble still performs but was not intended to accomplish.
5. It’s a triumph of technology.
Due to how much it will alter our understanding of the cosmos, it has the potential to drastically alter our textbooks. We shall be able to understand the cosmos we live in lot better. We can already see the effects in terms of technology.
Four main objectives of the James Webb Space Telescope:
- To look for light coming from the very earliest stars and galaxies that the cosmos produced following the Big Bang.
- To research the evolution and galaxy formation.
- To comprehend how planets and stars are formed.
- To research the history of life and planetary systems.
I appreciate you taking the time to read my Medium post.
Please share your ideas and advice in the comments area.
Follow me if you want to discover more.
