Today, Explained FYI those telescope photos are kinda fake
Jul 20, 2022
Amber Straughn, a NASA astrophysicist integral to the James Webb Space Telescope project, joins science journalist Joshua Sokol to discuss the breathtaking cosmic images that unveil our universe's mysteries. They clarify how these visuals are digital interpretations, not direct photographs, and the role of infrared technology in enhancing our understanding. The pair delve into the significance of these images in bridging science and public interest, highlighting the telescope's ability to reveal ancient galaxies and star-forming regions that shape our cosmic narrative.
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Telescope as Time Machine
- The James Webb telescope acts like a time machine due to light's travel time.
- We see distant objects as they were in the past, not as they are now.
Vastness of the Universe
- The deep field image shows thousands of galaxies in a tiny portion of the sky.
- This area is comparable to a grain of sand held at arm's length.
Galaxies vs. Stars
- Most points of light in the deep field image are galaxies, not stars.
- Each galaxy likely contains hundreds of billions of stars.