Photos from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope: After a glimpse of a galaxy-studded image from deep in the universe, NASA officials are now unveiling their opening showcase from the James Webb Space Telescope, the largest and most powerful orbital observatory ever built.
And it looks like there might be clouds in another world! The NASA Webb telescope captured the water sign on the giant gas planet WASP 96-b, which orbits a star 1,150 light-years away. “For the first time, we have detected evidence of clouds in the atmosphere of this exoplanet,” NASA tweeted.
Clouds on another world. @NASAWeb The giant gas planet captured the signature of water on WASP 96-b, which orbits a star 1,150 light-years away. For the first time, we have detected evidence of clouds in the atmosphere of this exoplanet: https://t.co/63zxpNDi4I #Unfold the Universe pic.twitter.com/f3HOX0HKis— NASA (@NASA) 12 July 2022
Sharing some other images, NASA said, “Some stars go out with a bang. In these images of the Southern Ring Planetary Nebula, the NASA Webb Telescope shows a dying star covered with layers of dust and light.”
Some stars come out with a bang. In these images of the Southern Ring planetary nebula, @NASAWeb Shows a dying star covered with layers of dust and light. Watch this star’s final performance here https://t.co/63zxpNDi4I #Unfold the Universe, pic.twitter.com/dfzrpvrewQ— NASA (@NASA) 12 July 2022
NASA also shared images of “a galaxy cluster showing giant shockwaves and tidal tails.”
Take Five: Captured in exquisite detail, @NASAWeb Stefan seen through the thick dust of the Quintet, a galaxy cluster showing giant shockwaves and tidal tails. It is the front row seat for galactic development: https://t.co/63zxpNDi4I #Unfold the Universe pic.twitter.com/em9wSJPkEU— NASA (@NASA) 12 July 2022
The first batch of full-color, high-resolution images, which took weeks to render from raw telescope data, were selected by NASA to provide compelling preliminary images from Webb’s investigation of key areas and previews of further science missions was. The $9 billion infrared telescope, built for NASA by aerospace giant Northrop Grumman Corp., is expected to revolutionize astronomy, giving scientists more clarity and clarity in the universe than ever before, by the dawn of the known universe.
A partnership between NASA, the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency, Webb was launched on Christmas Day, 2021, and reached its destination in solar orbit about 1 million miles from Earth a month later. Once there, the telescope underwent a months-long process to align all of its components, including a tennis court-sized sun shield, and to align its mirrors and calibrate its instruments.
With Webb now finely tuned and perfectly focused, astronomers will begin a competitively selected list of science projects exploring the evolution of galaxies, the life cycles of stars, the atmospheres of distant exoplanets and the moons of our outer solar system.
(with inputs from Reuters)