Robert Besser
13 May 2022, 21:18 GMT+10
WASHINGTON D.C.: Astronomers said this week that the testing of NASA's new space telescope, the James Webb Space Telescope, is nearly completed, with scientific observations expected to begin in July.
The telescope sent back the latest test pictures of a neighboring satellite galaxy, and the results are better than the images taken by the Spitzer Space Telescope, NASA's previous infrared observatory.
Each of the 18 mirror segments on the new telescope is larger than the single mirror on Spitzer.
University of Arizona's Marcia Rieke, chief scientist for Webb's near-infrared camera, said, "It is not until you actually see the kind of image that it delivers that you really internalize and go 'wow!' Just think of what we are going to learn," as quoted by the Associated Press.
Launched in December, the $10 billion Webb, the largest and most powerful astronomical observatory ever sent into space, will look for light emitted by the first stars and galaxies, close to 14 billion years ago, as well as for possible signs of life.
Scientists are keeping the identity of Webb's first target a secret.
The telescope, positioned 1 million miles from Earth, is considered the successor to the aging Hubble Space Telescope.
Get a daily dose of Tampa Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Tampa Star.
More InformationPARIS, France: Signaling further disruptions for summer travelers, workers at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport said they would go on strike ...
SOFIA, Bulgaria: Russian diplomats and their families departed Bulgaria over the weekend, amidst heightened tensions between the two eastern European ...
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa: More frequent power cuts in South Africa have affected households and businesses across the country, with state-owned ...
HONG KONG: An engineering vessel with 30 people on board went missing 200 miles off Hong Kong after it snapped ...
NICE, France -As some 1,000 Frenchmen are being hospitalized daily with Covid infections, French officials have "invited" or "recommended" the ...
BRUSSELS, Belgium: Negotiations on a free trade agreement between the European Union and New Zealand ended successfully this week, paving ...
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks gyrated on Tuesday, with major indices tumbling more than two percent before regaining ...
NEW DELHI, India: To combat worsening pollution, India, the world's second most populous country, has banned single-use plastic items, ranging ...
SAN FRANCISCO, California: In response to a string of shootings that have broken out at U.S. properties it lists, rental ...
SYDNEY, NSW, Australia - Stocks in Asia strengthened on Tuesday with major gains recorded across the region.The Reserve Bank of ...
NEW DELHI, India: As the Indian government aims to increase local fuel supplies to meet rising demand and boost federal ...
HOUSTON, Texas: Exxon Mobil Corp said this week that profits from skyrocketing fuel prices could result in a record $16 ...