Stunning images from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope are turning what had been the subject of science fiction into reality.
The $10-billion telescope is giving the most detailed look, ever, into the depths of the universe, according to deputy project scientist Amber Straughn.
“Every dot of light we see here is an individual star. Not unlike our sun. And many of these likely also have planets,” she said during a presentation of the telescope’s first images released Monday.
Here in Greater Victoria, outside of Saanich’s Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Centre, Dr. Madeline Marshall looks at the images on her laptop computer.
“This image here is of Stephan’s Quintet. These are the four galaxies that are interacting with each other,” she says.
The image is of special interest to Dr. Marshall.
“I’m beyond excited. It’s like Christmas has come today in July,” she says.
She’s one of the Canadian scientists who worked on the Webb telescope project, with the research centre helping design a guidance sensor and infrared imager.
And after waiting five years for a look at these historic images, Marshall said the results are overwhelming.
“We were very optimistic. But now it’s proof that this is just a phenomenal instrument,” she said. “It can see the universe in ways that we had always hoped to be able to see it. And it’s actually come true.”
The Webb telescope starting collecting data and capturing images — 120 hours’ worth — a few weeks ago, showing parts of the universe that are 13-billion light years away.
Marshall said this is the furthest away and the furthest back in time humans have ever seen.
“With Webb we can have a really deep look into these stellar nurseries that we haven’t seen before to understand how planets are formed, like our own.”
The project is a joint project of NASA and the Canadian and European space agencies.
Scientists say this is just the beginning of an new era in astrophysics and space exploration.
WATCH: CHEK Upside: Island scientists play key role in space telescope
Cosmic cliffs & a sea of stars. @NASAWebb reveals baby stars in the Carina Nebula, where ultraviolet radiation and stellar winds shape colossal walls of dust and gas. https://t.co/63zxpNDi4I #UnfoldTheUniverse pic.twitter.com/dXCokBAYGQ
— NASA (@NASA) July 12, 2022
Mary Griffin
