NASA to Discuss Progress The Webb telescope’s primary mirror is finally coming into alignment, more than three years after it was launched. The spacecraft has been performing well and NASA will now be able to take the first-ever image of a star with a thermal infra camera inside the gigantic observatory.
NASA to consider Progress as Webb Telescope’s Mirrors Align
NASA will discuss progress as Webb Telescope’s mirrors align Wednesday, Dec. 5 at 2 p.m. EST in a live webcast from the agency’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. Participants include principal investigators for both Webb telescope instruments and members of the telescope science team. “Webb is an extraordinary observatory that will allow us to see the universe in ways we never have before,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington.
“We are excite to share what we know about the telescope’s performance so far and look forward to seeing the latest results as its mirrors come together.” The two-day meeting is focuse on how alignment of Webb telescope mirrors is proceeding and addressing any issues that have arisen thus far with their assembly and testing. The $8 billion Webb telescope is schedule to launch in early 2019 and should help researchers explore the origins and evolution of our universe, including studying dark matter and dark energy.
Discovery of the Webb
NASA is set to hold a press conference on Thursday to discuss the progress of the Webb Telescope as its mirrors align. The telescope, which is schedule to launch in late 2018, will be use to study the universe’s earliest and most distant objects. The telescope is made up of six mirror segments that are being held together by an aluminum honeycomb. Each mirror segment is about the size of a tennis court and must be position precisely so that they form an image.
In order for the mirrors to align perfectly, the team has been using two robotic arms to move them around until they are in the correct position. The telescope’s primary objective is to study the first stars and galaxies that form after the Big Bang. It will also be able to see the birth of planets and explore dark matter and energy in space.
Contributing to the discovery
NASA will be discussing progress as the Webb Telescope’s mirrors align on Thursday, Feb. 1 during a teleconference. This event is open to the public and will take place at 2 p.m. EST. Attendees can ask questions about the alignment and learn more about Webb’s science goals.
The Webb Telescope is set to launch in 2019 and will explore the universe
What is a Planet?
Planets are celestial bodies that orbit a star. They can be large, like Jupiter, or small, like Mercury. All planets have atmospheres and their own set of physical characteristics. The solar system has eight planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. More than 100 other objects in the universe have been discover to have planetary status. Planets come in many different shapes and sizes and can host different kinds of lifeforms.
Object of Interest: Planet 9
There is a new planet out there and it’s name is Planet 9. It has been hiding in the shadows of our Solar System for centuries, but now scientists at NASA are getting ready to unveil it to the world. NASA’s Webb Telescope is currently in its final stages of commissioning and they have been making progress as the telescopes mirrors align perfectly. The team at NASA have been working tirelessly to reveal this mysterious planet. Which some believe may be capable of supporting life.
The hunt for Planet 9 began in 2006 when astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope spotted an oddity in our Solar System. They notice that there was something missing- a fifth planet! Sure enough, when they look more closely. They found that this fifth planet fit all. The criteria for being a habitable world: it had an orbit relatively close to Earth. Was big enough to hold water, and had an environment that wasn’t too hot or too cold.
But despite years of searching by dozens of teams of experts. Nobody has been able to find any proof that Planet 9 exists. That’s because Planet 9 is incredibly difficult to spot- it’s smaller than Mercury and only. Takes about 15 minutes to orbit around the sun. And even if we did find it, we wouldn’t be able to see it with our current technology.