James Webb Telescope Launch and updates

[blk02edge]

I was surprised to learn that L2 is not "stable."I thought all five LaGrange points were, but no. L1, L2 and L3 are not stable.

Something I've been pondering.

If JWST is looking one direction as far as 100M years past the big bang, then, turns an exact 180 and looks the exact opposite direction and looks to the same distance. Although the universe is measured at 93B LY across. The two opposite points JWST observed would only roughly be 100M LY apart. Thoughts?

I know the 100M LY distance is false and muddy do to zero actual calculations regarding the size of the universe in the dark ages etc. But, my general point being the two points wouldn't be nearly as far apart as one would generally think

 

[capnkirk52]

Did they test it here on Earth first? Like did they take it out at night and look at the moon? Seems that those pictures would be pretty cool too.

I never heard if there was a camera taking pics of Earth as the craft was sent on it's way? Those would have been cool, too.

 

[blk02edge]

Did they test it here on Earth first? Like did they take it out at night and look at the moon? Seems that those pictures would be pretty cool too.

I never heard if there was a camera taking pics of Earth as the craft was sent on it's way? Those would have been cool, too.

It's not just some camera you take pictures with, it is IR and has very minimal focus on visible light. So no, they didn't take it outside and take pictures of the moon.

 

[capnkirk52]

It's not just some camera you take pictures with, it is IR and has very minimal focus on visible light. So no, they didn't take it outside and take pictures of the moon.

Could have looked at the new moon... lol

Why do you think they didn't put a GoPro on the ass end of the craft to take pics of Earth as it was flying away? Of course they didn't need to but it would have been cool.

 

[gimmie11s]

Could have looked at the new moon... lol

Why do you think they didn't put a GoPro on the ass end of the craft to take pics of Earth as it was flying away? Of course they didn't need to but it would have been cool.

Because the Earth is flat bro...

 

[blk02edge]

Could have looked at the new moon... lol

Why do you think they didn't put a GoPro on the ass end of the craft to take pics of Earth as it was flying away? Of course they didn't need to but it would have been cool.

Because that's been done many times, so why would they on another space telescope that's already plagued with many *extremely* critical parts to deploy.

 

[03cobra#694]

Beyond mind boggling. Wow!

 

[F8l Vnm]

Temp is up. Minus -244 on the cold sure currently. Where Is Webb? NASA/Webb

 

[F8l Vnm]

Beyond mind boggling. Wow!

It really is. You Can get lost trying to wrap your head around how big things are. And how it’s still expanding. Crazy to think that it’s expanding faster at the speed of light. So does that mean it’s going back into the time ? We’ll be long gone to know.

 

[03cobra#694]

Stupid question from a novice. How can they still get signals from this so far away? No obstructions in space?

 

[03cobra#694]

It really is. You Can get lost trying to wrap your head around how big things are. And how it’s still expanding. Crazy to think that it’s expanding faster at the speed of light. So does that mean it’s going back into the time ? We’ll be long gone to know.

No shit. I still get caught in the “where it all began, and what started it.” How can something come from nothing, and what put nothing there. Impossible if you really think about it.

 

[blk02edge]

Stupid question from a novice. How can they still get signals from this so far away? No obstructions in space?

Infrared can see through interstellar/galactic dust. There are plenty of obstructions, but also plenty of areas with no obstructions

 

[blk02edge]

No shit. I still get caught in the “where it all began, and what started it.” How can something come from nothing, and what put nothing there. Impossible if you really think about it.

Those are the questions I don't believe we can ever actually know the answers to.

I only personally believe that energy has simply always existed.

 

[F8l Vnm]

Me too on energy part

Those are the questions I don't believe we can ever actually know the answers to.

I only personally believe that energy has simply always existed.

 

[TerminatoRS]

Those are the questions I don't believe we can ever actually know the answers to.

I only personally believe that energy has simply always existed.

I tend to agree with this. It's difficult to grasp because our human minds and experiences have observed that everything has a beginning and an end.

 

[James Snover]

Something I've been pondering.

If JWST is looking one direction as far as 100M years past the big bang, then, turns an exact 180 and looks the exact opposite direction and looks to the same distance. Although the universe is measured at 93B LY across. The two opposite points JWST observed would only roughly be 100M LY apart. Thoughts?

I know the 100M LY distance is false and muddy do to zero actual calculations regarding the size of the universe in the dark ages etc. But, my general point being the two points wouldn't be nearly as far apart as one would generally think

You're more correct than you may realize. _IF_ inflation happened in the very few first nanoseconds of the universe's existence*, we don't really know how big it may be. Because all we can see, due the limit of the speed of light and the expansion of the universe, we can only observe the 93-billion light-year "sphere." And we only see that much as a side-effect of the universe's expansion.** Otherwise, we'd only see a 26-billion light year sphere.

*There's lots of evidence to support Guth's Theory of Inflation. So far it is the leading contender for explaining the universe we see. But some heavy hitters in astronomy have always disagreed with the Theory of Inflation.

** The expansion of the universe has always been attributed to Edwin Hubble. However, for his entire life, he said what he discovered was a way to explain the red-shift of light from farther distances. He himself never supported, nor disagreed with, the idea that the red-shift was caused by expansion.

 

[James Snover]

Those are the questions I don't believe we can ever actually know the answers to.

I only personally believe that energy has simply always existed.

The ones you can't answer stand as the road signs for those who come along after.

Dang 'ol universe has got me waxing philosophical!

 

[James Snover]

Stupid question from a novice. How can they still get signals from this so far away? No obstructions in space?

One of the neat things about light: it tells you as much about where it came from, and how far away, as well as what it is you are seeing.

 

[James Snover]

I'm assuming that's why it will technically orbit around L2 and not simply "sit there" statically...?

Yep. Even so, Webb only has a finite amount of fuel. Should be enough for a while, but when she's out, she's out. No re-fueling, no service missions, no upgrades.

Unless somebody thinks of a way to get us to L2 as easily as we can get to LEO.

 

[blk02edge]

Yep. Even so, Webb only has a finite amount of fuel. Should be enough for a while, but when she's out, she's out. No re-fueling, no service missions, no upgrades.

Unless somebody thinks of a way to get us to L2 as easily as we can get to LEO.

Probably more cost effective to just start investing in the next Webb than even thinking about servicing. However with Artemis that cost could change in a decade or so I assume.