NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has presented us with a first view of the incredible photos it will capture.
When the JWST first launched on Christmas Day, space spectators were filled with mixed feelings. Admiration mixed with confusion at what’s to come next. Joy clashed with concern about whether the $10 billion observatory would arrive safely.
However, once the launch was celebrated, the world had anticipated JWST’s response for a couple of months. And here we are, almost to the other side.
The first complete photos captured by the remarkable James Webb Space Telescope, which searches for black holes and exoplanets while also cutting stardust, will be made public by NASA on July 12. However, the photos currently available are simply a test run, according to the scientists behind NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope.
According to the space agency, the calibration test image created by combining 32 hours and 72 exposures “is among the deepest images of the universe ever taken.” The photo was taken during a preliminary examination of the telescope’s Fine Guidance Sensor (FGS). Its responsibility is to ensure that all cameras and mirrors are correctly placed.
“Even when capturing unplanned imagery during a test,” NASA wrote on its blog, “FGS is capable of producing stunning views of the cosmos.”
This breathtaking photograph, captured in May but not disclosed to the public until today, is simply a preview of the best of the best.
NASA will release the first full-color photographs by the JWST in a week. Meanwhile, we’ll be eagerly awaiting to see how the magnificent telescope can topple itself.
