Introduction - A telescope for the past:
A Successor to Hubble:
- Hubble: Optical and UV, JWST: Infrared. Most JWST science had its foundations laid by Hubble.
- JWST has a 6 times larger collecting area. Hubble has a primary mirror of 2.4m and JWST 6.5m.
- JWST’s orbit is going to L2 (As the Earth orbits the Sun, Webb will orbit with it - but stay fixed in the same spot with relation to the Earth and the Sun) which is about 1millon km away from the Earth. Hubble a telescope in low Earth orbit (500 km).
JWST's Science Goals:
- JWST has 4 primary science goals: Study the formation of First stars and reionization, how galaxies assemble in the Universe, How do stars and planets get their start and finally study exoplanets.
- First Stars: Webb will be a powerful time machine with infrared capabilities to see the first stars peering out of the darkness of the early universe.
- Formation of galaxies: JWST will study the earliest galaxies to today's grand spirals and ellipticals, helping us to understand how galaxies assemble over billions of years.
- Birth of Star and Planets: See right through and into massive clouds of dust that are opaque to visible-light observatories.
- Origins of Life and Formation of Planets: Study atmospheres of extrasolar planets. In addition to other planetary systems, Webb will also study objects within our own Solar System.
Links to Science Outreach Material:
Special thanks to Colin Vendromin for the music also thanks to Zac Kenny for the logo!