I feel like I’m living one of those cartoon moments where your eyes go out of orbit because you see something immensely cool. NASA has released a test image of the James Webb space telescope this week as an appetizer before the main course of the observatory’s first large image unveiled on July 12, and it’s a beauty.
Webb’s mission is to look at the early universe, search for exoplanets and galaxies, and discover new secrets of the cosmos.
The image comes from the fine guide sensor, or FGS, an instrument whose main purpose is to allow the telescope to aim accurately. Essentially, it helps Webb to aim for his goals and stay on track to make observations. The FGS vision of stars and galaxies is “a tempting vision of what the telescope’s scientific instruments will reveal in the coming weeks, months and years,” NASA said in a statement Wednesday.
The full image shows a group of galaxies and stars (the ones with the dots).
NASA, CSA and FGS team
Stars stand out as objects with dots radiating from them. The other bright objects are galaxies. It is the result of 72 exhibitions held for 32 hours in mid-May. It represents one of the deepest images in the universe ever made.
Webb’s team described the image as “unexpected” and a “glamorous photo” in a tweet Wednesday.
The FGS snap was part of a successful test over a preparation period of months before Webb began making any real scientific observations. “In this engineering test, the purpose was to look at a star and test the extent to which Webb could control its ‘roll,’ literally Webb’s ability to roll to one side like an airplane in flight.” , NASA said.
This preview is enough to encourage both scientists and space fans to see the first major image launch, next week. Webb’s operations scientist Jane Rigby said, “The faintest spots in this image are exactly the types of faint galaxies Webb will study in his first year of scientific operations.”
When you’ve finished enjoying your eyes, be sure to mark your calendar for the presentation of NASA’s Webb images on July 12th. It will be a celebration.