Neptune, the outermost planet of our solar system, has been in the public eye quite a bit lately. The first rock from outside of the solar system was discovered to be passing through its orbit and there have also been multiple missions to study this gaseous world. However, many people still know little about this frozen gas giant, so let’s get started!
The History of Telescopes
The invention of telescopes traces back thousands of years with roots in ancient China and Greece. It wasn’t until 1608 when Galileo used his telescope to discover craters on Jupiter and its moons that people really took an interest in astronomy. The second half of 17th century saw a wave of innovations as many scientists made their own telescopes and explored our universe further than ever before. Some of these innovators included Robert Hooke, Christiaan Huygens and Giovanni Cassini. In 1844 John Herschel invented what we now call astronomical spectroscopy which led to discovery of Uranus’ moon Titania by William Lassell. Then came Edwin Hubble who discovered galaxies outside our own Milky Way. This lead to even more discoveries such as quasars, pulsars and black holes. Finally, in 1990s scientists began using radio telescopes to observe distant objects such as pulsars. This was followed by development of space-based telescopes such as Hubble Space Telescope and Spitzer Space Telescope which enabled us see objects that were too far or too hot for Earth based observatories. Today there are several large ground-based telescopes such as Keck Telescopes, Very Large Telescope (VLT) and Gemini Observatory. These are joined by several space based telescopes including Hubble Space Telescope, Chandra X-ray Observatory, Compton Gamma Ray Observatory and Planck Satellite.
Space telescopes explained
In space research and exploration, a telescope or observatory is a device that aids in observation by collecting electromagnetic radiation (such as visible light). Radio telescopes are used for receiving radio waves from astronomical objects. Optical telescopes collect electromagnetic radiation (such as visible light) via an optical mechanism; they are used to observe distant objects such as planets, stars, galaxies and nebulae. Active galactic nuclei are observed with dedicated instruments called gamma-ray telescopes. Pulsars are observed with pulsar detectors, which are usually arrays of radio dishes. Supernova remnants and gamma ray bursts may be observed with both optical and gamma ray telescopes. Telescopes can also be linked together in interferometers such as Large Binocular Telescope Interferometer or Very Large Array. A group of telescopes working together is called an array, although there can be errors due to atmospheric conditions and other factors leading to degradation of performance. Astronomical surveys consist of observations made using multiple telescopes at multiple locations at different times. This will allow astronomers to create detailed maps that capture much more information than if data were taken using just one telescope. The term survey does not typically refer to individual observatories but rather large projects usually covering whole regions of sky and involving many collaborators. The classification of infrared wavelengths: Infrared astronomy employs wavelengths longer than red light (about 0.7 micrometers), extending into terahertz frequencies, whereas ordinary visible light includes only wavelengths up to about 0.7 micrometers.
What is the Webb?
The Webb telescope can be considered a next-generation successor to both of NASA’s current space telescopes: Hubble and Spitzer. The construction and launch cost for it was an estimated $8.7 billion USD (as of 2007). The James Web Space Telescope project began in 1996 and will be equipped with a 6.5 meter primary mirror designed to collect infrared light, optimized for viewing some of the earliest stars and galaxies that formed in our Universe after the big bang 13.8 billion years ago. It has been referred to as the scientific successor to Hubble by John Grunsfeld, astronaut and associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. The James Webb Space Telescope is currently scheduled for launch in October 2018 on an Ariane 5 rocket from French Guiana. It will take approximately one month to reach L2, where it will begin operations approximately 100 million miles away from Earth.
Innovation and Functionality
Currently scheduled for launch in October 2018 from French Guiana (South America), NASA’s newest telescope will be unlike anything else ever made. The reason? A combination of innovation and functionality that has never before been attempted on such a scale. Weighing over 6,000 pounds and spanning twice as long as a Boeing 737 (!) it will take five months just to cool down so that we can actually look through it! And yet, once you do, you’ll find yourself looking at some of the most distant objects in our universe—objects which are currently hidden by clouds of dust and gas. What does all that mean? Well…it means we might finally get answers to questions like: How did our Universe begin? How did life begin here on Earth? Are there other planets out there like ours? Is there life on them? This one telescope could revolutionize astronomy forever.
When will it launch?
It’s expected that construction will be finished in October 2018, and it will launch in March 2021 at an estimated cost of $8 billion. It’s currently located in Goddard Space Flight Center with testing on-going as we speak so get ready for what’s coming next! The telescope is named after a former NASA administrator James Webb who was responsible for many iconic missions such as Gemini and Apollo. In fact, one of his most important achievements was convincing President John F Kennedy to commit America to reaching the moon before Russia could do it first. If you want to know more about him check out some interesting facts here . This project is a collaboration between NASA, ESA (European Space Agency) and Canadian Space Agency. When will it be used?: Like I mentioned earlier, JWST won’t actually see use until 2021 when it launches into space from French Guiana in South America. After its launch it will take about six months for JWST to reach its destination 1 million miles away from Earth.
