‘Going to see astronomy revolutionized:’ release of first James Webb images a game-changer Nanaimo astronomer

James Webb was launched on Dec. 25, 2021 and orbits at around 1.5 million kilometres from Earth.

It has 18 mirror segments and is roughly six times the size of Hubble which operates much closer to the planet.

As such, James Webb is able to capture more light over a longer span which creates larger and more detailed images.

The May test image showing the difference between Webb and previous imagery of the same section of sky.(NASA/JPL-Caltech/NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI)

A test image, released in May, showed the astounding resolution increase compared to prior snapshots of deep space. Arkos said it’s the resolution which will change the way we look at space.

“If they [test images] are any indication of what this telescope will be able to do when it actually takes a long exposure image and is property processed, we are going to see astronomy revolutionized again the way Hubble changed astronomy.”

Another test image was released by NASA on Wednesday, July 6, representing a 32-hour exposure of the telescope’s cameras and marked the deepest field ever captured so far.

Images released on Tuesday are expected to surpass the newly-set record.

The final released test image from James Webb, a compilation of snapshots with shorter exposures. (NASA/JPL-Caltech/NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI)

The first of the latest set of science images was previewed by U.S. President Joe Biden during an event on Monday, July 11.

Bill Nelson, NASA Administrator, told Biden and other dignitaries the image was a fraction of a fraction of a degree of the observable universe.

“If you held a grain of sand on the tip of your finger at arms length, that is the part of the universe that you’re seeing, just one little speck of the universe,” Nelson said.

He added some of the light captured by the telescope in the first image was over 13 billion years old.

“They’re going back about 13.5 billion years and since we know the universe is 13.8 billion years old, we’re going back almost to the beginning. That is the discovery we are making with this.”

Nelson added by analyzing data and imagery from the telescope, NASA scientists will be able to determine the chemical composition of the atmosphere of detected planets and determine whether or not they could support known life.

NASA will broadcast the release of images live on their YouTube channel Tuesday morning, with the images set to be posted online shortly after.

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On Twitter: @alexrawnsley

‘Going to see astronomy revolutionized:’ release of first James Webb images a game-changer Nanaimo astronomer

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