Gresham College Lectures A New Sky - Chris Lintott
Jun 20, 2025
Explore the groundbreaking capabilities of the James Webb Space Telescope, as it transforms our understanding of the cosmos. Dive into the intriguing discoveries of a distant galaxy named 'Cuthbert,' challenging existing cosmological theories. Uncover the secrets of distant galaxies and their role in early star formation and the origins of the Milky Way. Additionally, discover the power of collaboration in astronomy, highlighting how teamwork advances the field, despite financial challenges that lie ahead.
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JWST's Long Journey to Launch
- JWST was a dream since the late 1980s built by thousands of engineers and astronomers over decades.
- It was once the most delayed project in world science before launching on Christmas Day 2021.
Infrared Reveals Hidden Galaxies
- JWST's infrared images reveal dense fields of galaxies unseen by optical telescopes like Hubble.
- Gravitational lensing distorts light from distant galaxies, enabling study of massive galaxy clusters.
Expansion Shifts Light to Infrared
- The universe's expansion stretches early ultraviolet light to longer infrared wavelengths.
- JWST's infrared capability is essential to observe the most distant, earliest galaxies.