Summary and Reader Response Draft 1
In the article "Why stars look spiky in images from the James Webb Space Telescope", Verge (2022) addressed and explained the functions and features of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) that caused the images of stars taken to have a "distinct christmas-ornament-looking spikes". The article explains that the "spikes" which were also known as diffraction spikes are caused by the length between the primary and secondary mirrors of the telescope and the struts that hold the primary mirror and the secondary mirror together. The JWST is a reflecting telescope, whereby a large primary mirror gathers the light and reflects it back to a smaller mirror. The shape of the primary mirror will affect how the light is being reflected onto the secondary mirror where it will lead the light to the near-infrared cameras (NIRCam) and near-infrared spectrographs (NIRSpec) from James Webb Space Telescope (NASA, n.d). The near-infrared camera (NIRCam) is JWST’s primary imager capable of capturing ‘wavelength range 0.6 to 5 microns’ (NASA, n.d.).With this data of wavelength captured, NIRCam can detect light from stars and galaxies in the early process of formation. The NASA NIRCam's captured wavelength will then be analysed by an instrument called the near-infrared spectrographs(NIRSpec) where the evaluated spectrum will show the objects, stars and planets compositions (NASA, n.d.). With all the new features, The JWST takes more detailed images than its predecessor, the Hubble Space Telescope (HST).
The James Webb Space telescope was able to perceive images of objects further away compared to its counterparts, therefore, the images were more detailed. JWST has 4 instruments, Near Infrared Camera (NIRCam), Near Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec), Mid Infrared Instrument (MIRI) and Fine Guidance Sensors/Near Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph (FGS/NIRISS) (NASA, n.d.). These will enable it to capture infrared wavelengths of space articles such as stars, planets and galaxies. As mentioned, the NIRCam and the NIRSpec are capturing and processing the wavelength range of ‘0.6 microns to 5 microns’. The MIRI is able to capture and evaluate the wavelength range of ‘5 to 28 microns’. (NASA, n.d.). However, the Hubble Space Telescope instruments capabilities are perceived in ultraviolet and visible parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, from ‘0.1 to 0.8 microns’ and a small part of infrared from '0.8 microns to 2.5 microns' (NASA, n.d.). "The universe is expanding" including the space between galaxies. (NASA, n.d.). This results in light from the 'first galaxies' to stretch, As the light travels further, it shifts to a longer wavelength when it reaches us. These light will stretch and will be in the infrared light spectrum and the JWST was designed to pick up these wavelengths. In comparison with the HST, it is unable to pick these wavelengths as they are only designed to pick up in the visible and ultraviolet spectrum, which are shorter wavelengths than infrared. Therefore, The JWST was able to capture images of objects further away as compared to the HBT which results in more detailed images.
With the infrared data collected, the JWST will be able to observe more than the HBT. The infrared data allows scientists to produce images of stars and planets that were in the midst of forming that are concealed by huge clumps of dust as only infrared light can penetrate through these dust clouds. However, these dust clouds do not allow visible light to penetrate. This results in the HBT being unable to image all stars and planets that are concealed in these clouds. An example of this occurrence was when the HST took images of the “Carina Nebula” with its instruments in the visible and infrared spectrum (NASA, n.d.). “We can see more stars that weren’t visible” (NASA, n.d.). Therefore, the JWST will be able to observe more objects that are hidden in the infrared view than the HST.
The JWST is more efficient in collecting data. The HST primary mirror has a diameter of 2.4 metres while the JWST has a diameter of 6.6 metres. Therefore, the area of the collecting area of the JWST is roughly “6.25 times” bigger than the HST (NASA, n.d.). This results in the JWST having a bigger field of view to collect data. This directly correlates to JWST being more efficient in collecting data than the HST.
However, the HST has shown its longevity and effectiveness at its time ever since it was launched in 1990. The data and studies done with the HST has led to the “confirmed existence of black holes in galaxy cores, measured the composition of exoplanet atmospheres, found the most distant galaxies to date, and verified the accelerating expansion of the universe” which led to a 2011 Nobel Prize winning discovery in physics (NASA n.d.). At the moment, the HST is capable of being serviced while the JWST is incapable of servicing. Therefore, the HST has a bigger impact than the JWST at the moment.
In conclusion, the JWST is able to take more detailed images to the HST with it being able to observe more, further and more efficiently take in data. However, the JWST has to prove it's longevity as the HST is still running since 1990 and proved it's longevity and effectiveness.
Griggs, M.B. (2022, July 16). Why stars look spiky in images from the James Webb Space Telescope. https://www.theverge.com/23220109/james-webb-space-telescope-stars-diffraction-spike.
NASA(n.d.). Near Infrared Camera. https://webb.nasa.gov/content/observatory/instruments/nircam.html.
NASA (n.d.). Near Infrared Spectrograph. https://webb.nasa.gov/content/observatory/instruments/nirspec.html.
NASA(n.d.) What is the James Webb Space Telescope? https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/james-webb-space-telescope/en/
NASA(n.d.) Webb vs Hubble Telescope. https://www.jwst.nasa.gov/content/about/comparisonWebbVsHubble.html
NASA (n.d.) NIRCam. https://webb.nasa.gov/content/observatory/instruments/nircam.html
NASA(n.d.) MIRI. https://webb.nasa.gov/content/observatory/instruments/miri.html
NASA(n.d.) FAQ For Scientists. https://www.jwst.nasa.gov/content/forScientists/faqScientists.html#collectingarea
NASA(n.d.) Observatory - Hubble vs. Webb. https://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/hubble-vs-webb-on-the-shoulders-of-a-giant
The James Webb Space telescope was able to perceive images of objects further away compared to its counterparts, therefore, the images were more detailed. JWST has 4 instruments, Near Infrared Camera (NIRCam), Near Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec), Mid Infrared Instrument (MIRI) and Fine Guidance Sensors/Near Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph (FGS/NIRISS) (NASA, n.d.). These will enable it to capture infrared wavelengths of space articles such as stars, planets and galaxies. As mentioned, the NIRCam and the NIRSpec are capturing and processing the wavelength range of ‘0.6 microns to 5 microns’. The MIRI is able to capture and evaluate the wavelength range of ‘5 to 28 microns’. (NASA, n.d.). However, the Hubble Space Telescope instruments capabilities are perceived in ultraviolet and visible parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, from ‘0.1 to 0.8 microns’ and a small part of infrared from '0.8 microns to 2.5 microns' (NASA, n.d.). "The universe is expanding" including the space between galaxies. (NASA, n.d.). This results in light from the 'first galaxies' to stretch, As the light travels further, it shifts to a longer wavelength when it reaches us. These light will stretch and will be in the infrared light spectrum and the JWST was designed to pick up these wavelengths. In comparison with the HST, it is unable to pick these wavelengths as they are only designed to pick up in the visible and ultraviolet spectrum, which are shorter wavelengths than infrared. Therefore, The JWST was able to capture images of objects further away as compared to the HBT which results in more detailed images.
With the infrared data collected, the JWST will be able to observe more than the HBT. The infrared data allows scientists to produce images of stars and planets that were in the midst of forming that are concealed by huge clumps of dust as only infrared light can penetrate through these dust clouds. However, these dust clouds do not allow visible light to penetrate. This results in the HBT being unable to image all stars and planets that are concealed in these clouds. An example of this occurrence was when the HST took images of the “Carina Nebula” with its instruments in the visible and infrared spectrum (NASA, n.d.). “We can see more stars that weren’t visible” (NASA, n.d.). Therefore, the JWST will be able to observe more objects that are hidden in the infrared view than the HST.
The JWST is more efficient in collecting data. The HST primary mirror has a diameter of 2.4 metres while the JWST has a diameter of 6.6 metres. Therefore, the area of the collecting area of the JWST is roughly “6.25 times” bigger than the HST (NASA, n.d.). This results in the JWST having a bigger field of view to collect data. This directly correlates to JWST being more efficient in collecting data than the HST.
However, the HST has shown its longevity and effectiveness at its time ever since it was launched in 1990. The data and studies done with the HST has led to the “confirmed existence of black holes in galaxy cores, measured the composition of exoplanet atmospheres, found the most distant galaxies to date, and verified the accelerating expansion of the universe” which led to a 2011 Nobel Prize winning discovery in physics (NASA n.d.). At the moment, the HST is capable of being serviced while the JWST is incapable of servicing. Therefore, the HST has a bigger impact than the JWST at the moment.
In conclusion, the JWST is able to take more detailed images to the HST with it being able to observe more, further and more efficiently take in data. However, the JWST has to prove it's longevity as the HST is still running since 1990 and proved it's longevity and effectiveness.
Reference list
Griggs, M.B. (2022, July 16). Why stars look spiky in images from the James Webb Space Telescope. https://www.theverge.com/23220109/james-webb-space-telescope-stars-diffraction-spike.
NASA(n.d.). Near Infrared Camera. https://webb.nasa.gov/content/observatory/instruments/nircam.html.
NASA (n.d.). Near Infrared Spectrograph. https://webb.nasa.gov/content/observatory/instruments/nirspec.html.
NASA(n.d.) What is the James Webb Space Telescope? https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/james-webb-space-telescope/en/
NASA(n.d.) Webb vs Hubble Telescope. https://www.jwst.nasa.gov/content/about/comparisonWebbVsHubble.html
NASA (n.d.) NIRCam. https://webb.nasa.gov/content/observatory/instruments/nircam.html
NASA(n.d.) MIRI. https://webb.nasa.gov/content/observatory/instruments/miri.html
NASA(n.d.) FAQ For Scientists. https://www.jwst.nasa.gov/content/forScientists/faqScientists.html#collectingarea
NASA(n.d.) Observatory - Hubble vs. Webb. https://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/hubble-vs-webb-on-the-shoulders-of-a-giant
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