Webb Telescope Ready To Blow Our Minds

Let's just hope it gets deployed ok.  Lots of moving parts.

Lots of moving parts, and, unlike the Hubble, the Webb is going too far (1.5 million km from Earth) for it to be serviced.

Space telescopes are cool.

The coolest thing about this one is that it won't be orbiting the Earth.

It will be out beyond the moon (when the moon is farthest from the sun), cruising along amazingly adjacent to the Earth but orbiting the sun.

Liftoff:

https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1474717083883778057

looking for that singular point in time when god says, "whoops.....that's not going to turn out well".

I remember when I was a kid, they had to wait for a day with clear skies before liftoff.

Watched the liftoff

It was pretty rad

So, how long before it starts reporting back?

It'll take about a month for the Webb to reach L2, and then about five months to get its hardware deployed, calibrated, and functioning before the science mission starts.

https://webb.nasa.gov/content/about/faqs/faq.html#howdeploy 

my guess of the first image, coalesced into a discernible pic, dating back to 13.5 billion years ago might look like this.....

'Fully focused' telescope beats expectations

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-60771210

I can't wait. This'll be fascinating. 

Here's a much larger version of the image:

https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/telescope_alig...

The Total Perspective Vortex derives its picture of the whole Universe on the principle of extrapolated matter analyses.To explain — since every piece of matter in the Universe is in some way affected by every other piece of matter in the Universe, it is in theory possible to extrapolate the whole of creation — every sun, every planet, their orbits, their composition and their economic and social history from, say, one small piece of fairy cake. The man who invented the Total Perspective Vortex did so basically in order to annoy his wife.

The machine was originally created by its inventor Trin Tragula as a way to get back at his wife. She was always telling him to get a "sense of proportion," so he showed her the Vortex. Tragula was horrified to learn he had destroyed her mind, even as he proved his point that if life was going to live in such a vast Universe, one thing it could not afford to have was a sense of perspective.

The Vortex is now used as a torture and (in effect) killing device on the planet Frogstar B. The prospective victim of the TPV is placed within a small chamber wherein is displayed a model of the entire universe - together with a microscopic dot on a microscopic dot bearing the legend "you are here." The sense of perspective thereby conveyed destroys the victim's mind; it was stated that the TPV is the only known means of crushing a man's soul.

- Hitchhikers Guide To The Universe

lol

Don't panic, Nino.

In late May, Webb sustained a dust-sized micrometeroid impact to a primary mirror segment. Not to worry: Webb is still performing at a level that exceeds all mission requirements. Our first images will #UnfoldTheUniverse on July 12: https://go.nasa.gov/3mvyZoJ

https://twitter.com/NASAWebb/status/1534612311234826240

Thanks for the update,Mike. Coolness factor is absolute. 

T-minus, nine days and counting...

In a matter of days, scientists will release an unprecedented photo of the universe, going deeper into the cosmos than ever before and revealing some of the oldest stars and galaxies.

The image is one of 10 to 20 photos that will come from the James Webb Space Telescope, the preeminent observatory in the sky, on July 12, NASA officials confirmed during a news conference on Wednesday. For the few scientists who have seen a sneak peek, the new snapshots have inspired profound existential experiences and left some on the verge of tears, they said.

"It's an emotional moment when you see nature suddenly releasing some of its secrets," said Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA's associate administrator for science missions. "It's not an image. It's a new worldview."

https://mashable.com/article/webb-space-telescope-first-image-targets

https://www.nasa.gov/webbfirstimages

>>>For the few scientists who have seen a sneak peek, the new snapshots have inspired profound existential experiences and left some on the verge of tears, they said

very much looking forward to the 12th!

plus, we can all relate...

>>> the new snapshots have 2nd set inspired profound existential experiences and left some on the verge of tears, they said.;-)

Lololol

I so much fucking love Us

NASA released a test image today:

https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/countdown-to-the-webb-telescopes-firs...

^^^^ wow, makes me want to hang a hammock up there and be surrounded by all those sparkles!

In an unexpected twist, President Joe Biden will reveal the first full-color image from the Webb Space Telescope at the White House today at 5 p.m. ET. The much-anticipated release of the rest of the images remains scheduled for 10:30 a.m. ET tomorrow, and a live stream of Biden’s comments later today can be found here.

https://gizmodo.com/biden-to-reveal-first-full-color-image-webb-telescop...

Over an hour late. Wonder what the holdup is.

I hope Biden didn't fall off his bike again.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FXazrAmWAAEP0Xe?format=jpg&name=large

Whoever got Biden involved in that presentation needs to be looking for a new job tomorrow. 

New pics here: https://www.nasa.gov/webbfirstimages

Carina Nebula (Full Res, 14575 X 8441, PNG [124.71 MB]: https://stsci-opo.org/STScI-01G7ETPF7DVBJAC42JR5N6EQRH.png)

So lovely, thanks, Mike

holey Mountains of the Moon Alice!

^^^^ location of the next Zoner Jam, yesss!  ;)

((((Zoners in Spaaaaace)))

Remarks from his eminence:

Shouldn't Carina Nebula be renamed to CORINNA Nebula?  ;)

Bear with me Zoners, I've been on a grueling video production project, living on espressos while working long hours... today's the deadline and I'm a bit dingy and still at the office.

((((((( grueling video production project vibes )))))))

And don't forget: The universe will unfold for you momentarily.

From lift off to first pics, it's a truly astonishing feat, 

Hubble 

JWST

Is this the definition of "beyond comprehension"?  Simply amazing. 

i have no idea what "forever" means, but it sure is cool to look at.  Hard to understand (believe) that you (in theory) could travel in one direction, at any speed, and never, ever, forever have to stop or turn around. 

I'm guessing I'm not the only person who's changed their monitor wallpaper in the last few days? 

I saw the last half of this on TV tonight and will watch the first half on Youtube now. Pretty great.

Ultimate Space Telescope | Full Documentary | NOVA | PBS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hF-7eKtzAHM
 

Watched it last night - pretty amazing stuff.

Holy crap. If you have not yet watched that link that Judit posted to the PBS Nova special, then do not hesitate. Incredible. Thanks Judit.

YESSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! to new discoveries!!!!!!!!!

While not as pretty as a picture, I found this article about some of the image-capturing tech NASA is using really interesting:

With the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) now powered up and snapping some spectacular images, you may wonder exactly how it's storing them. Surprisingly enough, it carries a relatively tiny 68GB SSD, according to IEEE Spectrum — enough to handle a day's worth of JWST images, but not a lot more.

While that might sound ludicrously small for a $10 billion satellite, there are multiple reasons NASA chose the system. To start with, the JWST is a million miles from Earth where it gets bombarded by radiation and operates at a temperature of less than 50 degrees above absolute zero (-370 degrees F). So the SSD, like all other parts, must be radiation hardened and survive a grueling certification process. 

https://www.engadget.com/the-james-webb-space-telescope-has-a-68-gb-ssd-...

My God, it's full of purple.

new view of Jupiter. Thank you to all the Sheldon Coopers and  Amy Farrah Fowlers who made this possible. 

^^^^ wow that reminds me of the style of painting by Van Gogh!  amazing.

It's nothing short of miraculous that we get these new views of the natural beauty of the universe as we've never seen it,

These pics and all the pics to be coming are/ will be consciousness expanding, no doubt.

^^^ that reminds me of a marble

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2022/webb-captures-stellar-gymnasti...

Jupiter and its auroras.

A Cosmic Tarantula

(Click the image for a much larger version of the pic.)

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2022/a-cosmic-tarantula-caught-by-n...

So many wows!

'We are stardust, we are golden 

we are billion year old carbon'

Neptune has rings. Who knew?

Next thing you know they'll discover rings around Uranus.

Those galaxies look like one-celled animals.

^very clever, Surfdead, and lots of them

> Those galaxies look like one-celled animals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4eS2SceeFk&t=108s

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2022/nasa-s-webb-takes-star-filled-...

^That's Awesome!!

Wow and wow! And thanks for the link.

This showed up in front of me just now. It seems apropos. I don't know if it's science, but I like it anyway. And the last line is true, for sure.

“If it’s true that we’re all from the center of a star, that every atom in each of us is from the center of a star, then we’re all the same thing, and even a Coke machine or a cigarette butt on the street in Buffalo are made out of atoms that came from a star. They’ve all been recycled thousands of times as have you and I. So, if that’s true, then I am everywhere in the universe, in an extended sense, and therefore, it’s only me out there, so what is there to be afraid of? What is there that needs solace-seeking? Nothing. There’s nothing to be afraid of, because it’s all us.

The trouble is, we’ve been separated from being that universe by being born, and given a name, and an identity, and being individuated. We’ve been separated from the oneness. People have this yearning to be part of the overall one again.

Every person you look at; you can see the universe in their eyes, if you’re really looking.”

~George Carlin

WOW what an image!  I want to go there. 

It at first resembled a hand, but I'm also seeing mythical animal faces..

.... and thanks for that Carlin quote, Judit -- love that, too.

>>>“If it’s true that we’re all from the center of a star, that every atom in each of us is from the center of a star, then we’re all the same thing, and even a Coke machine or a cigarette butt on the street in Buffalo are made out of atoms that came from a star. They’ve all been recycled thousands of times as have you and I. So, if that’s true, then I am everywhere in the universe, in an extended sense, and therefore, it’s only me out there, so what is there to be afraid of? What is there that needs solace-seeking? Nothing. There’s nothing to be afraid of, because it’s all us.

The trouble is, we’ve been separated from being that universe by being born, and given a name, and an identity, and being individuated. We’ve been separated from the oneness. People have this yearning to be part of the overall one again.

beautiful pic......George smoked the Toad.

https://webbtelescope.org/contents/media/images/2022/053/01GFRYSFM89AFAD...

I feel like a cigarette ash fighting a tornado .

Insignificant. 

The beginingless and endless cycle.

Webb Celebrates First Year of Science With Close-up on Birth of Sun-like Stars

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2023/webb-celebrates-first-year-of-...

The Webb telescope illuminates information about the origins of our universe, but the appearance of this mysterious object in the background of this image leaves more questions than answers. The cosmic question mark hasn’t been closely observed or studied, so scientists aren’t exactly sure about the object’s origins and makeup.  It could be a merger of two galaxies that, at probably billions of light-years away.   There are many, many galaxies outside of our own Milky Way.  This looks like the kind of thing that you get fairly frequently — as galaxies grow and evolve over cosmic time — which is that they sometimes collide with their near neighbors.  And when that happens, they can get distorted into all kinds of different shapes — including a question mark.

So happy to be living in this age of incredible science. For so long humankind staggered around relying on myth and superstition for answers to mysteries.  We now for the first time in human history are actually starting to understand how the universe really works. It's just incredible and I feel really blessed to be living to take it all in. Don't forget about those mushrooms for the inner journeys either. 

>>> For so long humankind staggered around relying on myth and superstition for answers to mysteries.

the Republican party would like to remind you that scientists are highly progressive liberal homosexual socialists / communists who want your kids to change their gender, all the while destroying the very fabric of  unchecked, rabid consumerism which the almighty god (dollar) gave true-blooded americans the right to do.

other than that, i agree completely ;-)  The technology is truly fascinating, and we're super lucky to be able to enjoy this amazing international collaboration.

Speaking of myth and superstition, I had something pop into my head and asked my sorta religious sister the other day, but it may have been too big for her MAGA infested brain to handle.

I wondered, do these discoveries and these amazing pics change anything about some people's versions of the "creation" story? Does it change anything about the book of Genesis for the bible believing folks, or are these galaxies and stars all part of the "heavens and the Earth" God created in the beginning?  Like I told her, nothing important, just wondered how they are integrating these discoveries into their belief system.    

> just wondered how they are integrating these discoveries into their belief system.

I worked with a woman in the early 80s who was very Christian, but our cubicles were side-by-side, so we ended up talking a lot. One day she told me that the Earth was only a few thousand years old, so I asked her about the dinosaur bones/fossil record. In the blink of an eye she answered "God put those there to test our faith."

They don't integrate; they mutilate.

Yeah, I was raised by parents who sent me to Lutheran school through 6th grade and later they went full Pentecostal. Speaking in tongues, faith healings, hearing the voice of God, the whole enchilada. But by that time I was in my mid to late teens and able to avoid it as much as I could. That's sorta the kind of crap I was fed (a few thousand years old), which led to the question on how my siblings see it. Being in southern Utah with rocks millions of years old created, er, "conflicts" at first.   

My sister's answer was to say she never though we were the "only ones," but she avoided the chicken or the egg question. Said she hadn't looked into it enough. Huh? Forget it, sis. Just wondering. 

August 8,2023

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2023/webb-reveals-colors-of-earende...

>>>Webb Reveals Colors of Earendel, Most Distant Star Ever Detected

>>The galaxy cluster, located between us and Earendel, is so massive that it warps the fabric of space itself, which produces a magnifying effect, allowing astronomers to look through the cluster like a magnifying glass.  

>>While other features in the galaxy appear multiple times due to the gravitational lensing, Earendel only appears as a single point of light even in Webb’s high-resolution infrared imaging. Based on this, astronomers determine the object is magnified by a factor of at least 4,000, and thus is extremely small – the most distant star ever detected, observed 1 billion years after the big bang. The previous record-holder for the most distant star was detected by Hubble and observed around 4 billion years after the big bang. Another research team using Webb recently identified a gravitationally lensed star they nicknamed Quyllur, a red giant star observed 3 billion years after the big bang.

what an amazing achievement

(((((((((((((((((((((((((>is so massive that it warps the fabric of space itself,  )))))))))))))))))))))))))))

i can't even comprehend what I'm seeing in those pictures. All those galaxies and stars and that is only a pinprick of the night sky. It is like that everywhere.  They pointed Hubble at what they thought was a dark patch of sky and it ended up giving them a picture similar to those above. Every dot of the entire sky is just filled beyond counting with galaxies and stars. It is a big universe so it seems, but certainly we must be the only intelligent folks in it. OMG!

That's deep!  

The Jimmy Webb Telescope.

Dude!  Check this out.  Does that planet look like cake to you?

RIng Nebula

https://webbtelescope.org/contents/media/images/01H82G0PP38P6PBXQ11BEVSMY0

I thought the Hubble was cool.

.

It was.

I miss Ras.

.             .

.

One of the Webb’s first major findings was exciting in an uncomfortable sense: It discovered the existence of fully formed galaxies far earlier than should have been possible according to the so-called standard model of cosmology.

According to the standard model, which is the basis for essentially all research in the field, there is a fixed and precise sequence of events that followed the Big Bang: First, the force of gravity pulled together denser regions in the cooling cosmic gas, which grew to become stars and black holes; then, the force of gravity pulled together the stars into galaxies.

The Webb data, though, revealed that some very large galaxies formed really fast, in too short a time, at least according to the standard model. This was no minor discrepancy. The finding is akin to parents and their children appearing in a story when the grandparents are still children themselves.

It was not, unfortunately, an isolated incident. There have been other recent occasions in which the evidence behind science’s basic understanding of the universe has been found to be alarmingly inconsistent.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/02/opinion/cosmology-crisis-webb-telesco...

Unexpected results are the heartbeat of science. It is what forces it forward to discover real truths. That we have any understanding at all about how the Universe looked billions of years ago near its supposed beginning is crazy. Doesn't surprise me that we really have not figured this one out yet. 

a bit off topic but there's an eclipse coming to some zoners yards next month

https://nationaleclipse.com/maps_2023.html

One of the nice things about having the universe for a topic is that nothing is ever really out of bounds.

Not much of CA is in the path of that eclipse, but a good part of OR between Corvallis and Grants Pass is.

>>>There have been other recent occasions in which the evidence behind science’s basic understanding of the universe has been found to be alarmingly inconsistent.

i would absolutely love it if the Webb telescope someday comes back with this image :)  The rest of us can finally proclaim,  'We knew it!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

as always, amazing images. From Dec. '23.  

NASA’s Webb Rings in Holidays With Ringed Planet Uranus

https://www.nasa.gov/missions/webb/nasas-webb-rings-in-holidays-with-rin...

>>Because Uranus spins on its side at a tilt of about 98 degrees, it has the most extreme seasons in the solar system. For nearly a quarter of each Uranian year, the Sun shines over one pole, plunging the other half of the planet into a dark, 21-year-long winter.

outstanding. 

^  I thought winters in Wisconsin dragged on..... 

Fire Upon The Deep is a great sci-fi book that explores how a life could evolve on a planet like that.

Webb catches Arp 107 interacting galaxy pair.  The large cluster on the right is the Maga galaxy sucking the light and joy from the neighboring, enlightened galaxy  :(

https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasawebbtelescope/54004594840/in/album-721...