Astronomy/jwst

Advertisement

Expert: - 11/27/2008


Question
Hi Tom, you've helped me before and always was great.  My Q this time:  Will the James Webb Space Telescope be a major improvement over the HST in visbible light?  On NASA's site, all it says is it is "Infrared optimized" and will "have some visible capacity."  I read from Wikipedia that the mirror is 6x larger than the Hubble.  Does that mean it will be that much greater in taking those breathtaking pics of deep space?

Answer
Hi Tim,
It's my understanding that the JWST will mainly operate in the
infrared on very deep space objects (where visible light is red-shifted down into that portion of the spectrum due to the high recessional velocities) using a beryllium coating. So at those extemes, there probably isn't much visible light anyway because
it's all red-shifted out of the visible and down into the infrared,
or even radio frequencies, like the Remnant Big Bang radiation itself
in the microwave portion of the radio spectrum.
See
http://michaelgr.com/2007/05/20/the-hubble-space-telescope-vs-new-james-webb-spa...

So I would expect some great pictures and data, but not the visible
light pictures that we are used to with the HST. But lots of
good data from the extreme red shifted distance of some 13.5 billion
light years away....objects that are only 1/100th the age of the
Universe, or younger.  I guess it's goal is science, not pretty pictures for public use.
Clear Skies,
Tom Whiting
Erie, PA

Astronomy

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Tom Whiting

Expertise

Astronomy has been my hobby/pasttime for over 50 years.  Currently own 3 telescopes, the largest of which is a 30 inch Newtonian truss Dob that is portable.I taught Astronomy/Meteorology at the University Level for 13 years before retiring in 1995. Being retired and home most of the time, I am able to answer all questions relatively quickly, unless it's a new moon weekend with good observing conditions.  No astrology questions please, or questions about alleged UFO picture identifications.

Experience

Experience: Astronomy has been my hobby and study for over 50 years. We currently now own a 30 inch portable telescope (Updated - Pennsylvania`s largest portable telescope). It can be seen on our website at:http://www.velocity.net/~bwhiting and also attend several regional starparties during the year, and have been on 5 total solar eclipse expeditions.

Organizations: President, Erie County Mobile Observers Group for over 15 years.

Publications: Wrote the "Over Erie Skies" newspaper article in our local newspaper for 11 years (1975-86).

Education: Masters Degree- Taught at the University level for 13 years. Retired 20 years -USAF Pilot - KC-135 with 180 combat missions;  Also Eagle Scout, Philmont staff 2 Yrs, Order of Arrow Lodge Chief, Ham Radio (inactive).

Awards: two discoveries: The mini-coathanger asterism in Ursa Minor (the little dipper) And the mini-ladle- another asterism in the bowl of Ursa Minor. Clients: Currently President of the ECMOG as mentioned above.

Education/Credentials
BS  Metallurgical Engineering Grove City College, PAMaster's Degree, Gannon University, Erie, PA Also retired USAF pilot, 20 years.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.