Primary Country (Mandatory)

United States

Other Country (Optional)

Set News Language for United States

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language[s] (Optional)
No other language available

Set News Language for World

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language(s) (Optional)

Set News Source for United States

Primary Source (Mandatory)
CNN
Other Source[s] (Optional)

Set News Source for World

Primary Source (Mandatory)
AajTak
Other Source(s) (Optional)
  • Countries
    • India
    • United States
    • Qatar
    • Germany
    • China
    • Canada
    • World
  • Categories
    • National
    • International
    • Business
    • Entertainment
    • Sports
    • Special
    • All Categories
  • Available Languages for United States
    • English
  • All Languages
    • English
    • Hindi
    • Arabic
    • German
    • Chinese
    • French
  • Sources
    • India
      • AajTak
      • NDTV India
      • The Hindu
      • India Today
      • Zee News
      • NDTV
      • BBC
      • The Wire
      • News18
      • News 24
      • The Quint
      • ABP News
      • Zee News
      • News 24
    • United States
      • CNN
      • Fox News
      • Al Jazeera
      • CBSN
      • NY Post
      • Voice of America
      • The New York Times
      • HuffPost
      • ABC News
      • Newsy
    • Qatar
      • Al Jazeera
      • Al Arab
      • The Peninsula
      • Gulf Times
      • Al Sharq
      • Qatar Tribune
      • Al Raya
      • Lusail
    • Germany
      • DW
      • ZDF
      • ProSieben
      • RTL
      • n-tv
      • Die Welt
      • Süddeutsche Zeitung
      • Frankfurter Rundschau
    • China
      • China Daily
      • BBC
      • The New York Times
      • Voice of America
      • Beijing Daily
      • The Epoch Times
      • Ta Kung Pao
      • Xinmin Evening News
    • Canada
      • CBC
      • Radio-Canada
      • CTV
      • TVA Nouvelles
      • Le Journal de Montréal
      • Global News
      • BNN Bloomberg
      • Métro
Muscle Fit Dress Shirt Buy Now
2-Piece Women's Sweatsuit Buy Now
Digital Camera for Photography 48MP Buy Now
Mommy & Me Pajamas Buy Now
Long Sleeve Open Front Cardigan Buy Now
Rimless Rectangle Sunglasses for Men Buy Now
Mens Fashion Loose Fit Crewneck Stripe T-Shirt Buy Now
Ultra Cotton Long Sleeve T-Shirt Buy Now
Gold Jewelry Set 49pc Buy Now
TACVASEN Bomber Jacket Buy Now
Womens Fuax Leather Skirt Buy Now
Cleaning Gel for Car, Tools, Laptop and Keyboard Cleaner Buy Now
Amazon Essentials Women's Heeled Sandals Buy Now
Calvin Klein Hadley Crossbody Buy Now
Elastic High Waisted Wide Leg Dress Pants Buy Now
KODAK PIXPRO AZ255-BK 16MP Vlogging Camera Buy Now
Blisset 3 Pack High Waisted Leggings for Women Buy Now
SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab S6 Lite 10.4 Buy Now
Casio A158WA: Unisex Digital Watch Buy Now
Insignia Fire TV 32 inch Smart HD 720p Buy Now
MoreBack to News Headlines
Explained | What is the relevance of the recently released images from the James Webb Space Telescope?

Explained | What is the relevance of the recently released images from the James Webb Space Telescope?

The Hindu
Wednesday, July 13, 2022 6:21 PM GMT

With the release of its first five stunning images, the James Webb Space Telescope has demonstrated an acute observational capacity and revealed aspects of the cosmos hitherto hidden from other telescopes

On November 30, 1609, Galileo turned his telescope towards the night sky. This singular act revolutionised astronomy. Until then, scholars held that celestial objects were without any kind of blemish. Galileo showed that the Moon had craters and mountains. All celestial objects, including stars, were thought to go around the Earth. The telescope, by observing phases of Venus firmly established that planets go around the Sun and not the Earth. The Milky Way, a haze in the dark night teemed with hundreds of stars, established that the cosmos is immense and beyond our imagination. Galileo revolutionised astronomy using a crude telescope which by today's standards is merely a toy.

The first five images released by NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) on July 11, captured by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is no less momentous in the history of astronomy than the day Galileo turned his telescope toward the heavens.

The deep field image of the SMACS 0723 cluster of galaxies has images that date back to times when the first stars were born. The images from Carina Nebula vividly show the birth of new stars. In contrast, the Southern Ring Nebula image details a dying star. In Stephan's quintet, the JWST has captured the cataclysmic cosmic collision of galaxies. By analysing the spectrum of the radiation from WASP-96 b, an exoplanet (a planet orbiting a distant star), the telescope has shown conclusively the presence of water vapour in the atmosphere of this hot, puffy gas giant planet orbiting a distant Sun-like star. With its sharp vision, more light-collecting area and ability to see in the invisible infrared regions, the JWST is sure to expand our understanding of the cosmos.

About 13.8 billion years ago, through the Big Bang, our Universe emerged. The first stars and galaxies were born around 300 million years after the Big Bang. To know more about the formation of these stars and galaxies, we do not need a time machine or time travel. As light travels with a velocity of about 3,00,000 km per second, light from a distant object will take time to reach us on Earth. Hence, when we see a distant stellar object, we see it as if it were far back in time. Powerful telescopes are therefore, like time machines.

However since objects far away are dim, we need giant telescopes to collect more light. Further, light from distant objects is stretched out by the expansion of our Universe, driving the radiation from the visible range into the infrared. Therefore, to look deep back into the early phases of the Universe, we need a giant infrared telescope. JWST is the biggest infrared telescope ever built. With a 6.5-metre primary mirror, the JWST infrared telescope collects more photons than Hubble. It can see even the faintest flicker from the most distant regions of the cosmos.

The SMACS 0723 is a noted cluster of galaxies around 5.12 billion light-years away. Situated in the direction of the southern constellation of Volans, the image is as it appeared 4.6 billion years ago, about the same time when the Sun and the Earth evolved. The cluster has been previously studied by Hubble, Planck and Chandra space telescopes. But the rich details and features of the JWST's Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) are unmatched.

With a sharper vision than Hubble, many of the galaxies seen clearly in this image appear as mere blobs in Hubble's telescope. SMACS 0723 galaxy cluster is massive, which, as Einstein's general relativity theory predicts, distorts the fabric of spacetime. Like the refraction of a ray of light passing through a lens, the light from behind bends through the massive cluster. Due to this ''gravitational lensing'' effect, we notice that some galaxies appear distorted in an arc shape, some are split into multiple images, and some are magnified.

Read full story on The Hindu
Share this story on:-
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running GamePlay Run 3, the ultimate space tunnel running game with 300+ challenging levels!Adv.
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing GameTraffic Jam 3D is a game where you’ll be driving through heavy traffic.Adv.
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic GamePlay the classic 1984 light gun shooter game Duck Hunt on your browser.Adv.
More Related News
Searching for alien life means asking the right questions first  Premium

Exploring the quest for alien life through Bayesian analysis, emphasizing the importance of asking the right questions in research.

ANRF unveils PM Professorships to bolster research in State universities

ANRF offers Prime Minister Professorships with ₹30 lakh fellowship for retired scientists to mentor emerging research at State universities.

New study shows cysteine withdrawal causes rapid weight loss in mice Premium

Unraveling the impact of cysteine deficiency on rapid weight loss, highlighting the importance of amino acids in nutrition.

Group Captain Shukla has completed all seven microgravity experiments onboard ISS: ISRO

Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla completes 7 microgravity experiments during 18-day stay at ISS, returning to Earth.

‘Lord of the Rings’ director backs idea to revive New Zealand’s moa

Filmmaker Peter Jackson partners with Colossal Biosciences to genetically engineer extinct moa birds, sparking scientific and ethical debates.

Why must India recognise its open ecosystems? | Explained Premium

Deserts are not failures, but ancient, diverse ecosystems needing protection and respect from human interventions and policies.

Today’s India looks ambitious, fearless, confident, and full of pride, says astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla

Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla describes India from space as ambitious, fearless, confident, and full of pride.

Monsoon treks near Visakhapatnam: Explore scenic Eastern Ghats trails

Discover monsoon treks in the Eastern Ghats near Visakhapatnam, offering scenic trails, cultural immersion, and challenging adventures for all levels.

Immune cells’ fat blocks brain’s ability to clean Alzheimer’s plaques Premium

Alzheimer's disease progression linked to microglia fat metabolism, potential new treatment target identified in recent study.

A probe that penetrated Jupiter’s atmosphere

On July 13, 1995, NASA’s Galileo spacecraft released the atmospheric entry probe that it carried. A.S.Ganesh tells you more about this mission with particular emphasis on the probe, which hit Jupiter’s atmosphere in December 1995.

Kolhapuri chappal row: Prada to launch capsule collection of ‘Made in India’ sandals with local artisans in Maharashtra 

Prada collaborates with local artisans in Maharashtra to launch 'Made in India' leather sandals, addressing cultural appropriation concerns.

Why the 2.5 BHK is redefining urban Indian living today

Discover the rising demand for 2.5 BHK homes in Indian cities, offering flexibility and value for modern living.

Ranga Shankara’s Theatre for Children Festival  returns to Bengaluru

Ranga Shankara’s Theatre for Children Festival  returns to Bengaluru

Parking Slot | Free Parking GamePlay Parking Slot, the best online 3D car driving and parking game.Adv.
Slope Ball Run - Play OnlineSlope Game takes you on an exciting journey of a ball on special paths.Adv.
Meet Kerala’s growing community of women in motorsports

Women off-roaders in Kerala defy stereotypes, navigate obstacles, and compete in male-dominated motorsports with passion and skill.

The 7th edition of Shefs at The Leela celebrates women in culinary leadership

The Leela Palace Chennai presents the seven edition of Shefs at The Leela in collaboration with ‘Dean With Us’ — the mother-daughter duo of Rupali and Akansha Dean. The event honours the transformative role of Indian women chefs who are shaping the future of gastronomy. After past editions hosted across Bengaluru, Gurugram, Chennai, and Jaipur, the seventh edition in Chennai will bring together four women chefs — Sambhavi Joshi, Taiyaba Ali, Sehaj Ghuman and Bunuma Patagiri, who will bring their years of expertise into curating a menu that speaks both of their work and India’s diverse culinary heritage.  

Can Ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs be substitute for work outs? Dr Ambrish Mithal and Raj Ganpath discuss

Endocrinologist Dr Ambrish Mithal, the author of the recently-released book, The Weight Loss Revolution, talks to fitness and nutrition coach, Raj Ganpath, co-founder of The Quad, to decode GLP-1 drugs. Should you take them?

‘Desi Oon’ and Suresh Eriyat’s dialogue with shepherds

Filmmaker Suresh Eriyat’s award-winning stop-motion animation Desi Oon is a tactile masterpiece in storytelling and a reminder to look to artisans as equals

Pattu, the Doberman rescued in Chennai, finds forever home 7,200 km away in Prague

Rescued and brought to Besant Memorial Animal Dispensary in Besant Nagar, in a state of malnourishment and paralysis, Pattu the Doberman now lives it up in the Czech Republic

What is the universe’s antimatter mystery? | Explained Premium

Scientists discover CP violation in baryon decays, shedding light on why the universe is mostly made of matter.

Shubhanshu Shukla undergoing rehabilitation to mitigate any adverse effect of microgravity: ISRO

Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla undergoes rehabilitation post-space mission to counter microgravity effects, monitored by ISRO and Axiom.

Gujarat launches India’s first tribal genome project to tackle inherited diseases

Gujarat launches genome sequencing project for tribal communities to identify genetic health risks and enable precision healthcare.

A tectonic shift in thinking to build seismic resilience Premium

With seismic activity intensifying, India cannot afford delay and the Government of India must lead with stringent enforcement, public education, and resilient infrastructure investment

CERN collider reveals major clue to universe’s bias against antimatter Premium

Scientists observe CP violation in baryons, a key clue in understanding why matter dominates the universe over antimatter.

For Kerala musician Alex Immatty his songs are a means of protest

Thrissur-based rock musician Alex J Immatty uses his music as a tool for change and awareness, questioning social issues.

Science Quiz: Properties of light

How well do you know light and its properties?

© 2008 - 2025 Webjosh  |  News Archive  |  Privacy Policy  |  Contact Us