After much anticipation, today NASA unveiled the very first image from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), said to be the highest-resolution infrared image of the universe, ever. It features the galaxy cluster SMACS 0723, offering a “deep-field view” of the stars surrounding it, according to NASA. Tomorrow, the agency will unveil the telescope’s first color images and data.
Related: This is the deepest image of the universe ever shot
The first JWST image unveiled
It’s here–the deepest, sharpest infrared view of the universe to date: Webb’s First Deep Field.
Previewed by @POTUS on July 11, it shows galaxies once invisible to us. The full set of @NASAWebb‘s first full-color images & data will be revealed July 12: https://t.co/63zxpNDi4I pic.twitter.com/zAr7YoFZ8C
— NASA (@NASA) July 11, 2022
President Joe Biden presided over the release of the JWST’s first official image. According to NASA, the image represents just a small fraction of the sky. Proportionally, it’s about the same size as a grain of sand held at arm’s length. Though tiny, the information is rich.
The resulting image is a composite of many shots, captured at several wavelengths, for a total exposure of 12.5 hours. The many specks represent distant galaxies—thousands of them—and the image is the most detailed view of the early universe, according to the agency. Light travels approximately 186,000 miles per second, and the light we see in this image has been traveling for over 13 billion years. As part of its mission, the JWST will continue to probe deep into the past.
“[The galaxies] have tiny, faint structures that have never been seen before, including star clusters and diffuse features,” NASA writes. “Researchers will soon begin to learn more about the galaxies’ masses, ages, histories, and compositions, as Webb seeks the earliest galaxies in the universe.”
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What’s next for the JWST
After its inaugural images, the JWST will turn its lens to new targets, including the Carina Nebula, one of the sky’s largest and brightest, and Stephan’s Quintet, found in the Pegasus constellation. The latter was the first compact galaxy group to be discovered in 1877.
We’ll continue reporting on new images and news as they are released. Check back here for updates.
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