NASA selects early science targets for JWST

In summary, the James Webb Space Telescope will be targeting a variety of objects, such as planets, moons, stars, and galaxies, in our solar system and beyond. For exoplanets, the focus will be on studying the atmospheres of larger planets first, with smaller ones being observed later. The specific targets for the first few months of observation will depend on the launch date, which is expected to be no earlier than 2019. All data from these early observations will be made freely accessible. However, there are concerns about the telescope's journey to its observational location and the potential difficulties in servicing it if something goes wrong. Unlike the Hubble telescope, the James Webb Space Telescope will be located 1.5 million km away from
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A variety of targets will be looked at, including planets and moons within our solar system, various star systems and many galaxies from the early universe, where the high redshift and Hubble’s wavelength range made observations difficult.

For exoplanets, the strategy is to look at the atmospheres of big planets first. Smaller ones will follow once the easier targets are well understood.

James Webb Space Telescope has to point away from the Sun, so the specific targets for the first months will depend on the launch date (not earlier than 2019).
All the data from the early observations will be accessible freely immediately.
 
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I can't wait until the JWST finally comes out! But it will still have to travel to the observational location...:frown:
 
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It will need about a month to reach its target, and most of the many unfolding steps happen during that time. It will make many people very nervous - if something goes wrong it could be really hard to fix it. Unlike Hubble, it will be 1.5 million km away from Earth, servicing missions would be tricky (although not impossible).
 
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1. What is JWST and why is it significant?

JWST stands for James Webb Space Telescope and it is the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope. It is significant because it will be the most powerful space telescope ever built, allowing us to see even further into the universe and observe objects that were previously beyond our reach.

2. How does NASA select early science targets for JWST?

NASA has a team of experts who review proposals from the scientific community and evaluate their potential for groundbreaking discoveries. They consider factors such as the scientific merit, technical feasibility, and alignment with JWST's mission objectives before selecting the most promising targets for observation.

3. What types of objects will JWST observe?

JWST will observe a wide range of objects, including planets and their atmospheres, stars and galaxies, and even some of the earliest structures in the universe. It will also be able to study the properties of dark matter and dark energy, giving us a better understanding of the structure and evolution of the universe.

4. When will JWST begin its observations?

JWST is currently scheduled for launch in October 2021. After a few months of commissioning and testing, it is expected to begin its scientific observations in early 2022. However, these dates are subject to change depending on any unexpected technical issues that may arise.

5. How will the data collected by JWST be shared with the scientific community?

All data collected by JWST will be made publicly available through the Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes (MAST), which is managed by the Space Telescope Science Institute. This will allow scientists from all over the world to access and analyze the data, leading to new discoveries and insights about our universe.

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