We’ve seen some of the test photos JWST has sent back now that all of its science equipment has been aligned with the telescope’s optics and is all working at their (very cold) operational temperatures. These photographs are stunning in and of themselves, but when contrasted to our prior infrared observatory in space, they become much more so. To show this, NASA has provided two photos of the same section of the sky captured by Spitzer and JWST. JWST is the successor to Hubble (which is still working hard, thank you very much) and the Spitzer Space Telescope, which was retired a few years ago. It is presently the largest and most powerful telescope ever deployed to space.
Spitzer provided us with the first high-resolution near- and mid-infrared photographs of the universe, offering us with remarkable new insights into our knowledge of the universe by giving us an infrared eye into the cosmos. JWST will look into the universe in infrared as well, but with a considerably finer sight, as seen above. Spitzer walked so JWST could run, according to NASA.
Spitzer’s and JWST’s views of a portion of the Large Magellanic Cloud, the Milky Way’s biggest neighbor galaxy, are shown in this animated gif comparison. Spitzer’s Infrared Array Camera detects stars and interstellar gas in the neighboring galaxy using light with a wavelength of 8 microns. The Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) on JWST, however, observes the same thing with remarkable clarity.
The emission of “polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons,” significant interstellar molecules, is seen in all of its strands and nebulosity. The difference between Spitzer’s 0.85-meter (2.8-foot) primary mirror and JWST’s 6.5-meter (21-foot) primary mirror is this. While the space telescope is still being tested, NASA officials revealed Wednesday that the first scientific photographs would be provided in mid-July, while the target is still being kept under wraps.
The first image with all 18 of the JWST’s mirror capabilities combined has been revealed. Although it appears to be a simple photograph of a star, astronomers are virtually breathless with amazement at the power exhibited in this single image. “The Webb team set out to create the most powerful telescope anybody has ever deployed in orbit more than 20 years ago and came up with an innovative optical design to achieve challenging research goals,” NASA’s Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen said in a statement. “Today, we can confidently state that design will deliver.”
