NASA has set a timetable for the release of the first full-color photographs from the new James Webb Space Telescope. On July 12, 2022, NASA, along with the European Space Agency (ESA), the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), and the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), will release the photos and spectroscopic data.
Since its launch in December 2021, James Webb has been undergoing alignment and calibration, which entails making minute modifications to the 18 segments of the telescope's primary mirror and evaluating the sensitivity of each of the four sensors. A number of calibration photos have been supplied so far, which were used in the preparation of the instruments for science activities. However, the first full-color photographs, which are believed to be even more striking and appealing, will be revealed in July.
"As we near the completion of the observatory's science preparations, we are on the verge of a very exciting moment of cosmic discovery." In a NASA statement, Webb programme scientist Eric Smith said, "The release of Webb's first full-color photographs will present a rare time for us all to stop and marvel at a vision humanity has never seen before." "These photos will be the result of decades of hard work, talent, and dreams - but they will only be the beginning."
Webb will explore items that have already been picked by an international committee after a lengthy selection procedure. The study of Jupiter and its rings and moons, research into how stars are produced, and gazing at the oldest galaxies to glean clues about the universe when it was very young are among the projects Webb will pursue in his first year.
The first images will show "the early universe, the evolution of galaxies through time, the lifecycle of stars, and other worlds," according to NASA, which will also release a "package of materials" relating to the key themes that Webb will explore, including "the early universe, the evolution of galaxies through time, the lifecycle of stars, and other worlds." Along with photos, spectroscopic data will be available, which utilises light to determine the chemical composition of objects.
Even after all of the planning that goes into launching a telescope, researchers have no way of knowing how precise its instruments will be until they use them. STScI's Joseph DePasquale explained: "Of course, there are things we're hoping to detect," he says, "but with a new telescope and this new high-resolution infrared data, we'll simply have to wait and see."
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