Carina Nebula - James Webb Space Telescope
Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI

Exploring our universe: New images from the James Webb Space Telescope

The beauty of our universe being captured by the greatest photo technology to exist

It is amazing how humanity pushes itself to explore, to learn, and to understand.

NASA recently revealed the first images of our unseen universe taken by the James Webb Space Telescope, a partnership with the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and the European Space Agency (ESA).

 


 
Looking at these images you can’t help but feel like your imaginations are coming to life.

The wonderful image of the Carina Nebula, showcasing the earliest stages of star formation, gives me goosebumps and makes me truly wonder what is hidden away in the cosmos.
 


 
The most fascinating of the images is that of the Southern Ring Nebula, the informal name given to the planetary nebula NGC 3132, located about 2,500 light-years away. Here the Webb telescope shows us a dying star expelling gas and dust; for the first time however, it also shows us that the dying star is cloaked in dust.

It is this science that paves way for the inspiration we see as consumers in various film and television projects, the main channels through which we can experience space. Looking at the Carina Nebula and the Southern Ring Nebula immediately gave me Guardians of the Galaxy vibes, and that was wonderful.
 


 
Canada has played a major role in the development of this magnificent scientific tool.

The CSA has contributed two important elements, built by Honeywell, to the Webb telescope:

  • The Fine Guidance Sensor (FGS)
  • The Near-Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph (NIRISS)

The FGS, in layman terms, is the world’s greatest auto-focus technology. It allows the telescope to know exactly where it is, lock-on to its target while tracking it with high precision, and capture the sharpest image possible.

When you are dealing with the darkness of the cosmos, with countless miles of depth and distance, being able to clearly look at what you want to capture and do so at the highest quality possible is paramount to the advancement of research.
 


 
NIRISS captures the infrared light emitted by objects and gathers information about the spectra of distant planets.

Why is this important?

This instrument allows firstly to reveal details about galaxies that it is observing. This includes their age and distance from us, their relative size and shape, and just how much they have evolved.

In addition, the Webb telescope’s ability to evaluate spectra of distant planets can provide us data on composition, temperature and habitability. Basically, if there is life outside of earth.

Webb’s recent observation of a planet outside our solar system reveals signs of water (see below), something previous studies have not detected. This opens up a world of possibilities, something that will drive future research.
 


 
Please visit JPL’s page here to learn more about the various images captured and the state-of-the-art instruments that have helped make them all happen.

Science is a gift that keeps on giving, one that has inspired film and television as we experience it today. Taking a moment to reflect on the true story that inspires so many fictional ones is well worth it.

I cannot wait to see what our Canadian astronomers will share with us in the coming months as they get a chance to utilize the James Webb Space Telescope for their own specific research.

 

Cover Photo Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI⁣⁣