Following testing, NASA space telescope to begin operating in July

Robert Besser
13 May 2022, 21:18 GMT+10

Astronomers said this week that the testing of NASA's new space telescope, the James Webb Space Telescope, is nearly completed
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
Each of the 18 mirror segments on the new telescope is larger than the single mirror on Spitzer

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.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Caribbean Herald.

More Information

25 ℃

Partly Cloudy in Santo Domingo

Business

Section

UK to OK Shell's North Sea gas project to provide 6.5% of nation's gas

LONDON, England: UK officials are expected to approve a request by Shell Oil to develop a North Sea gas field, ...

As tourism returns, Spain's hotels raise rates 36% over 2021

MADRID, Spain: Hotels in Spain are seeing a rebound in tourism, increasing their rates by 36 percent in April over ...

Nasdaq Composite leads U.S. stocks in rally, index adds more than 3%

NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks raced ahead on Friday, with technology shares leading the way on signs inflation ...

Hyundai recalls vehicles in US, Canada to replace seat belt part

WASHINGTON D.C.: Due to seat-belt mechanisms that could explode and shoot out metal fragments in the event of a crash, ...

Starbucks announces closure of all outlets in Russia

SEATTLE, Washington: Following the decision of McDonald's, Seattle-based Starbucks said this week that it will exit the Russian market after ...

Asian stock markets join global rally, Japan's Nikkei 225 gains 177 points

SYDNEY, NSW, Australia - Stocks in Asia were stronger across the board on Friday, following a two-day surge on Wall ...

Latin America

Section