NASA Reveals Webb Telescope's first images of unseen universe

As the world receives its first glimpse of the complete capabilities of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, a collaboration with ESA (European Space Agency) and CSA, a new era in astronomy is beginning (Canadian Space Agency).

The whole set of the telescope's first full-color photos and spectroscopic data, released on Tuesday and revealing a number of previously unobserved cosmic phenomena, may be found at:

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson stated, "Today, we offer humanity with a revolutionary new picture of the cosmos through the James Webb Space Telescope — a view the world has never seen before. These photos, which include the most in-depth infrared image of our cosmos ever captured, demonstrate how Webb will help us find the answers to questions that we haven't even thought to ask, questions that will improve our understanding of the universe and our place within it.

"NASA does what it does best, and the Webb team's amazing accomplishment is a testament of that. For the good of humanity, we transform dreams into reality. The team is only getting started, so I can't wait to see what we find out!"

Webb's initial observations tell the story of the hidden universe through every stage of cosmic history, from the most distant observable galaxies in the early universe to the neighboring planets outside of our solar system known as exoplanets. NASA explores the unknown in space for the benefit of all.

Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, declared that "this is a unique and historic event." "I am really proud of the Webb team because it took decades of commitment and tenacity to bring us here. These first findings demonstrate the extent to which we may advance by working together to unravel the cosmic puzzles that unite us all. It's a breathtaking preview of forthcoming discoveries.

Greg Robinson, the director of the Webb program at NASA Headquarters, stated, "We are thrilled to share this wonderful day with the globe. "The images and data from the Webb telescope's breathtaking diversity and remarkable detail will have a tremendous influence on our understanding of the cosmos and encourage us to dream big," says Webb.

A panel of members from NASA, ESA, CSA, and the Space Telescope Science Institute chose Webb's initial observations. They demonstrate the capabilities of each of Webb's four cutting-edge scientific instruments:

SMACS 0723: In just 12.5 hours, Webb has produced the most detailed and precise infrared picture of the distant universe to date. The field of vision for this new image, a color composite of numerous exposures each roughly two hours long, is about the size of a grain of sand held at arm's length for a human standing on Earth and looking up. Some of the most distant galaxies ever discovered are found in this deep field using a lensing galaxy cluster. The potential of Webb in examining deep fields and dating galaxies to the beginning of cosmic time are barely touched by this picture.

WASP-96b (spectrum): Webb's meticulous study of this hot, puffy planet outside of our solar system reveals the water's unmistakable trace as well as signs of haze and clouds that earlier investigations of this planet were unable to discover. It will now begin to explore hundreds of additional systems to better understand what other planetary atmospheres are comprised of in light of Webb's discovery of water for the first time in an exoplanet's atmosphere.

The Southern Ring Nebula is a planetary nebula that is about 2,000 light years distant. It is an expanding cloud of gas that surrounds a dying star. Here, Webb's strong infrared eyes reveal a second fading star for the first time in its entirety. Webb can investigate the expulsion of dust and gas from elderly stars that may one day develop into a new star or planet, from birth through death as a planetary nebula.

Webb's image of Stephan's Quintet, a small cluster of galaxies in the Pegasus constellation, sliced through the cloud of dust encasing one galaxy's nucleus and revealed the velocity and make-up of the gas near its supermassive black hole. Now, researchers can observe star formation in interacting galaxies in unprecedented detail and learn how the gas in these galaxies is being disrupted.

Carina Nebula: Webb's examination of the "Cosmic Cliffs" in the Carina Nebula reveals previously concealed evidence of the earliest, most rapid stages of star creation. Webb can observe freshly emerging stars and investigate the gas and dust that gave rise to them by observing this and other star-formation regions in the southern constellation Carina.

The Webb Senior Project Scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, John Mather, called it "very fantastic." "The machinery is in fantastic operating order, and nature is really beautiful. Congratulations and appreciation to our international teams for making it possible.

The start of Webb's science operations, where astronomers from all over the globe will have the chance to use Webb's four instruments to investigate everything from objects in our solar system to the early cosmos, is marked with the publication of the mission's first photos and spectra.

Dec. 25, 2021 saw the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope aboard an Ariane 5 rocket from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana, South America. Webb endured months of commissioning when its mirrors were aligned, its sensors were calibrated to its space environment, and it was made ready for science after undergoing a challenging deployment procedure in orbit.

The public may also watch the new Webb photos on Tuesday starting at 5:30 p.m. EDT and 10:30 p.m. GMT on a number of digital displays in Times Square in New York City and Piccadilly Circus in London.

The best space scientific observatory in the world is the James Webb Space Telescope. Webb will investigate the mystifying architecture and origins of our cosmos and our part in it while also looking beyond our solar system to faraway planets revolving around other stars.

The mission is managed by NASA Headquarters on behalf of the Science Mission Directorate. Webb is managed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, which also coordinates work on the project by Northrop Grumman, the Space Telescope Science Institute, and other mission partners. Along with Goddard, other NASA facilities such as the Johnson Space Center in Houston, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, the Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley, and others also contributed to the project.