FREE EVENT: James Webb Space Telescope and its First Images
A special event, free for members and non-members.
Tuesday, August 16, 7-9 PM via Zoom.
Registration link (no fee)- copy and paste in your browser window:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYlc-mqqzgtGNwwFxon13WlaRCHpjdXuK1V
Aug. 4, 2022- latest image, Cartwheel Galaxy
After being launched, unfolded, positioned, and calibrated a million miles from Earth since Christmas Day, 2021, the JWST has begun providing images. Unlike the Hubble Space Telescope with cameras imaging in ordinary light, the JWST is designed to see the universe in infrared light, emitted as a heat signature from objects. IR light is not interrupted by space dust and will reveal heat signals from stars, galaxies, and exoplanets orbiting stars. This will lead to a revolution in our understanding of the Big Bang, cosmic expansion, star and galaxy formation, and characteristics of exoplanets. On July 11, 2022, NASA presented the first 5 images which now will take experts months and years to decipher.
Details about the Webb Telescope, its capabilities, and its first images will be presented. Our instructor is Matthias Schmitt, an astronomy ranger and night-sky expedition host in Utah National Parks. He is an active AAA member and class instructor (Stellarium Workshop), now completing his Master’s studies in Astronomy at Swinburne University in Melbourne, Australia.
