Watch a video of the European Space Agency’s amazing new telescope to take a brief journey through the galaxy.
A one-minute video depicts the precise location of the Southern Ring Nebula in the galaxy and is made up of dozens of individual images that give the impression that you are using the telescope’s zoom feature.
A blue circle encircled by radiating red and orange gases appeared in the first batch of images from the James Webb Space Telescope, which went viral online in recognition of the telescope’s accomplishments.
Despite being prominent and attractive when seen by Webb in near-infrared light, the bright star at the center of NGC 3132 only contributes minimally to the shaping of the Southern Ring Nebula that surrounds it.
The true source of the nebula is a second star that is just barely visible at lower left along one of the bright star’s diffraction spikes. Over thousands of years, it has ejected at least eight layers of gas and dust.
This incredibly detailed image was created using information from Webb’s Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam). It is jam-packed with scientific data, and after its publication, research will begin.
It’s normal to be overwhelmed by the video’s concept of scale. Webb’s primary mission time of ten years will overlap with several other remarkably advanced and complementary space telescopes that promise to present the best images and conclusions about the universe and our place in it in human history in the late 2020s and early 2030s.
Watch the video: