The James Webb Telescope has released the first real image of another world, marking an unprecedented milestone in our exploration of the universe.

Ground-based telescopes have given us an improved view of the stars, capturing more light than our eyes can perceive. Throughout history, numerous instruments have been created to study space, but none have come close to the scientific leap achieved by the James Webb Telescope.

This telescope has literally been designed to embark on a journey towards the origin of the universe, and that is exactly what it has achieved, especially when it comes to exoplanets. Today, we have the official image of the “city of lights” in Próxima B, a historical milestone that changes everything. In addition, it is expected to obtain 18 separate images, one for each mirror. But that’s not all, recently, the James Webb Telescope has captured the clearest image of another exoplanet.

Join us as we explore this incredible discovery made by the James Webb Telescope and what it could mean for our future.

An Unprecedented Scientific Leap

Thanks to James Webb, scientists will be able to look back in time to a time when the universe was only 200 million years old. The information we can obtain from this invention will probably allow us to go back in time and better understand the evolution of the universe. This is not all, this telescope is also capable of capturing images of some of the first galaxies to form, allowing us to witness the first stars of the universe twinkling in the dark void of space.

But how does the James Webb achieve its amazing capabilities? Well, it has a huge 21-foot diameter mirror that captures and reflects light back to the spacecraft’s instruments. Speaking of instruments, the James Webb has four of them, each designed to capture different types of light and provide a unique view of the universe.

The Instruments of James Webb

Firstly, there is the Near Red Camera, which is the main camera and is aimed at capturing stunning images of distant galaxies, nebulae, and other cosmic wonders. We also have the near-infrared spectrograph, which breaks down light into its components to reveal more information about the objects observed. The mid-infrared instrument is specifically designed to collect infrared light and study exoplanets in the early universe, and even our own solar system.

There is nothing that escapes your ability to observe. Finally, this wonderful telescope features the near-infrared fine pointing sensor and spectrograph that is used for precise pointing and is very sensitive to near-infrared light, leaving no detail undiscovered.

Now you might wonder why NASA chose infrared to use like the James Webb Telescope, especially when there are so many types of light available. The choice of infrared is due to several reasons. First, infrared allows us to penetrate through cosmic dust and gas that could block visible light. In addition, infrared is ideal for studying cold objects, such as forming stars, planets, and distant galaxies. By using infrared, the James Webb can reveal details and features that would otherwise be difficult to detect using other ranges of light.

Capturing Images of Other Worlds

The James Webb Telescope made history by capturing its first direct image of an exoplanet. This exoplanet, called Hip 65 426b, was discovered in 2017 and is located 100 times greater distance from its host star compared to Earth. To observe this colossal gas giant, scientists used the Webb Telescope and applied several filters. The images obtained were combined to create the resulting image of the exoplanet, an exciting achievement for astronomers.

According to Sacha Hinkle, an astronomer at the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom and leader of these observations, this moment is not only transformative for the Webb Telescope, but also for astronomy in general. What makes this exoplanet special is its size, about 12 times that of Jupiter, and the great distance separating it from its host star. These features made it more feasible to capture a direct image using the Webb Telescope.

But direct imaging of planets isn’t just about getting visually stunning images. It’s about understanding the origins of the planets and exploring the possibility of life beyond our solar system. These images could provide us with clues about how planets form and what type of atmospheres they have. This, in turn, could lead to the discovery of exoplanets with habitable conditions, a goal pursued for decades.

While research so far has shown that there is little hope of finding a habitable planet, the fact that the James Webb Telescope has the ability to zoom in on planets means that if a habitable exoplanet exists, the James Webb Telescope will be the first. in discovering it.

Observing the Oldest Galaxies

If everything before was impressive, what happened next exceeded all expectations. Scientists announced that the Webb Telescope has successfully observed the oldest galaxies known to humanity. These galaxies formed when the universe was just a baby, representing just 2% of its current age. The amazing thing is that these four galaxies are the most distant ever observed, located a staggering 13.4 billion light years away from us.

Let’s think about that for a moment: It took 13.4 billion years for the light emitted by these galaxies to reach our telescopes. It is an almost unimaginable distance. Despite this, the Webb Telescope has managed to observe them and capture images of what they were like more than 13,000 million years ago.

The process of observing these ancient galaxies was not an easy task. First, scientists had to identify them, which is not easy considering how far away it is. However, thanks to the infrared capabilities of the Webb Telescope, it was able to capture the faintest signals and, as a result, researchers will be able to identify these four galaxies. But identifying the galaxies was just the beginning. To confirm the true age of these galaxies, the scientific team had to analyze data collected by the Webb Telescope’s near-infrared spectrograph and measure the redshift of these galaxies.

As we mentioned above, redshift is a measure of how much the wavelengths of light emitted by an object have lengthened as the universe expands. The greater the redshift, the further away the object is from us and the older it is.

The redshift of these galaxies was measured at 13.2, the highest ever recorded, indicating that they are the oldest known galaxies. It is difficult to overstate the importance of this discovery. These galaxies formed even before the first stars originated in our own galaxy. The Webb Telescope has managed to capture images of these, giving us a glimpse into the early days of the universe. This type of discovery has the potential to transform our understanding of the cosmos and challenge our current conceptions.

City Lights in a Faraway World

In addition to this exciting achievement, researchers have recently been interested in the possibility of the Webb Telescope capturing the sharpest image of city lights, a projection of human activity on Earth. Although it may seem like a difficult challenge, the conditions to achieve it are favorable. For example, the closest star to the Sun, Proxima Centauri, is a red dwarf located at a distance of 4.25 light years.

This is where astronomers enjoy the planet Proxima B, which lies in the habitable zone of its star and is believed to be in a tidally locked configuration, with one side permanently lit by day and the other side in darkness. If a technological civilization exists on Proxima B, they may have covered the day side of the planet with photovoltaic cells to generate electricity and provide lighting, which would also heat the night side.

This is where the James Webb Space Telescope comes into play. In a recent scientific paper, researchers showed that the Webb Telescope could detect city lights on the permanent night side of Proxima B. Even if the artificial lighting is as dim as what we use on Earth’s night side, the Webb Telescope would be able to detect it, as long as it was restricted to a frequency band a thousand times narrower than starlight.

Additionally, future space telescopes proposed by NASA, such as ultraviolet and infrared optical, would be even more sensitive to weaker levels of artificial illumination on the side of Proxima B.

The idea that they can detect city lights on a planet located more than 4 light years away is astonishing and is a reminder that there is still much to discover in the universe with telescopes like the James Webb. We are one step closer to understanding everything that happens in our solar system and in distant galaxies.

Frequent questions

Why is the James Webb Telescope’s ability to image exoplanets so important?

The James Webb Telescope’s ability to image exoplanets is crucial because it allows us to gain a deeper understanding of the formation and characteristics of these distant worlds. Additionally, these images can provide clues about the possibility of life on other planets, which is a fundamental goal in astrobiology.

Why does the James Webb Telescope use infrared light instead of visible light?

The James Webb Telescope uses infrared light because it has significant advantages in observing space. Infrared can penetrate cosmic dust and gas that would block visible light, and is ideal for studying cold objects such as forming stars, planets, and distant galaxies. In addition, it reveals details that would be difficult to detect in other light ranges.

What is the importance of observing the oldest galaxies known to humanity?

Observing the oldest galaxies is essential because it gives us the opportunity to study the conditions and evolution of the universe in its early stages. These galaxies formed even before the first stars originated in our own galaxy, providing valuable information about the early cosmos and challenging our current conceptions of its history.

Conclusion

The James Webb Telescope has taken humanity on an unprecedented journey in the exploration of the universe. From capturing the first direct image of an exoplanet to observing the oldest known galaxies, this instrument has transformed our understanding of the cosmos. With his ability to reveal the mysteries of deep space and the ability to detect the lights of a city on a distant world, the James Webb continues to inspire our quest for knowledge in the vast and amazing universe we inhabit. We are on the brink of even more exciting and challenging discoveries, reminding us that space still has much to reveal and explore.