The VTP is a sophisticated astronomical service introduced in 2006 by the Bellatrix Astronomical Observatory, situated in Ceccano, Italy. The VTP operates two remotely-accessible robotic telescopes, the Planewave 17-inch g/6.8 (432/2939 mm) Corrected Dall-Kirkham Astrograph (aka. “Elena”), and the Celestron 14 ″- f/8.4 (356/3000 mm) Schmidt-Cassegrain OTA. They likewise provide public online observing sessions, live streams, professional commentary from their scientific staff, and public outreach to people worldwide.
The James Webb Telescope imaged from Earth.– January 24th, 2022. Credit: TVTP 2.0
The image of the JWST (shown above) was handled January 24th using Elena. This robotic telescope tracked the obvious motion of the JWST instantly and obtained a single 300-single unfiltered direct exposure that shows the telescopes position (indicated by an arrow in the center). When it was imaged, the JWST had actually reached its final destination (L2), placing it at a range of about 1.4 million km (869,920 mi) from Earth.
In addition to the above image, the VTP also created a short GIF animation (listed below) that shows the JWSTs obvious movement versus the stars. While it might appear like little bit more than a small dot against a background of brighter dots (and the darkness of area), these images inform a story of an ambitious mission that was decades in the making. Work began on the telescope in 1996, and it was at first hoped that the James Webb would be launched by 2007 and with a budget of $500 million.
Sadly, there were numerous hold-ups and cost overruns due to a significant redesign, concerns with the sunshield, and the Ariane 5 rocket that would release it. The COVID-19 pandemic also imposed delays, as did the fact that the James Webb is the most innovative and complex area telescope ever developed. Time and again, the origami-like nature of the telescope (where it has to fold up to fit within a payload fairing) needed substantial testing runs, and the slightest problems required retesting and safety checks.
By late 2021, the telescope screening completed up, and the James Webb was delivered to Kourou, French Guiana, for combination with the Ariane 5 rocket. Thomas Zurbuchen, NASAs associate administrator for science missions, commented, “Its truly Christmas with all the presents and everything and we have an area mission!”
The James Webb Space Telescope in motion against the stars. January 24th, 2022. Credit: TVTP 2.0
By late 2021, the telescope screening completed up, and the James Webb was shipped to Kourou, French Guiana, for integration with the Ariane 5 rocket. NASAs associate administrator for science objectives Thomas Zurbuchen, “Its truly Christmas with all the presents and everything and we have an area objective.”
Now that the objective is at L2, the objective team is waiting on the telescope to reach functional temperature. This will be followed by the activation of the telescopes instruments, final screening, and calibration. Disallowing any concerns, NASA anticipates that the James Webb will start collecting its very first light by June 2022. As NASA Administrator Bill Nelson stated:
Congratulations to the team for all of their difficult work guaranteeing Webbs safe arrival at L2 today. And I cant wait to see Webbs very first brand-new views of the universe this summertime!”
Additional Reading: The Virtual Telescope Project 2.0
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The past month has actually been an amazing time for the James Webb Space Telescope! According to NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, the Chief Science Communications Officer (CSCO) for the JWST and the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) for the ESA, James Webb will start collecting light this summertime.
Work began on the telescope in 1996, and it was at first hoped that the James Webb would be launched by 2007 and with a budget plan of $500 million.
The COVID-19 pandemic likewise enforced hold-ups, as did the reality that the James Webb is the most innovative and complicated area telescope ever developed. The James Webb Space Telescope in movement versus the stars.
The previous month has been an interesting time for the James Webb Space Telescope! After launching on Christmas Day, the telescope invested the next few weeks releasing its mirrors, checking the individual sections, and then navigating to L2, where it will invest the next 10 to twenty years opening the mysteries of the cosmos. According to NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, the Chief Science Communications Officer (CSCO) for the JWST and the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) for the ESA, James Webb will begin collecting light this summer.
To mark the occasion, the Virtual Telescope Project (VTP) caught images of James Webb to give individuals a sense of what it looks like in orbit. Theres not a lot to see there, other than a bright dot in the night sky. But like Carl Sagans popular “Pale Blue Dot” photo of Earth (taken by Voyager 1 on its method out of the Solar System), or Cassinis “The Day Earth Smiled” image, theres an incredible quantity of significance in that little point of light.
