Next class , the most amazing space scope that ’s ever been built will be set in motion . NASA ’s James Webb Space Telescope ( JWST ) is going to give us a enchanting look into the universe .
But how do we decide what it ’s going to look at ? Well , that ’s where scientists come in . As with all telescope , individuals or grouping will have to put forwards their proposal for an arena of cogitation , be it a distant galax or an exoplanet , and desire their idea is picked .
NASA beganaccepting proposalsfor the scope in early January . The scope is scheduled to found in October 2018 , although it wo n’t be in its location 1.6 million klick ( 1 million miles ) from Earth , beyond the orbit of the Moon , and ready to find the population until April 2019 .
“ Once the scope is operational , it is expected to be available for science operation 8,776 hours per year , ” Irene Klotz remark forSeeker . “ Up to 10 percent of the fourth dimension will be used at the director ’s discretion . The respite is for guaranteed and universal observer programme . ”
The first round of projects form part of the insure - Time Observer ( GTO ) course of study , with a second round called the Director ’s discretional Early Release Science program .
JWST has aminimum lifetimeof 5 yr , although it has enough fuel to last about 10 . And it ’s in spades move to be a rather glorious few class , despite the $ 9 billion telescope being about 7 years behind schedule and significantly over the initial $ 1.6 billion budget .
Compared to Hubble , JWST is about seven times more powerful , with its primary mirror about three times big than Hubble ’s at 6.5 meters ( 21.3 feet ) across . But while Hubble ’s mirror was a unmarried curved affair , JWST ’s is made of 18 single hexagonal segments , plated in gold , with a tennis court - sized sunshield protecting the telescope ’s optics . The completed elemental mirror was shown off for the first prison term inNovember 2016 .
The scope has had some issues late , though , with a quivering test get some problem back inDecember 2016 , but thing look to bebetter now .
JWST will observe the universe in infrared light , rather than optical luminousness like Hubble . But itscapabilities are vast . It will be used to peer back and see the first stars and galaxies in the universe , and even see the birth of other planetary organization .
What it look at specifically , though , will be down to the various scientists who put forward proposal . residue assure that there will be plenty of interesting ideas on the table .
