Unexplainable

The James Webb Space Telescope

Sep 22, 2021
Explore the groundbreaking shift in astronomy with the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope, poised to unveil the cosmos like never before. Delve into the excitement and challenges that shaped its development. Learn about the search for extraterrestrial life, particularly on extreme exoplanets like K2-141b, where molten rock oceans await analysis. Listen to passionate scientists discussing their groundbreaking discoveries and the mysteries they hope to unravel, including the ancient light of the universe.
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INSIGHT

Webb's Advantages

  • The James Webb telescope improves upon Hubble primarily through its size and the type of light it collects.
  • A larger mirror allows Webb to gather more light and see finer details, like a bigger light bucket.
INSIGHT

Infrared Vision

  • Webb is an infrared telescope, seeing light beyond human vision, which is redshifted due to the universe's expansion.
  • This allows Webb to see faraway objects whose light has stretched into the infrared spectrum, invisible to Hubble.
INSIGHT

Webb's Distance and Repair

  • Webb's infrared sensitivity requires it to be extremely cold, necessitating its placement a million miles away, four times further than the moon.
  • This distance prevents on-site repairs, unlike Hubble, making its flawless operation crucial.
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