‘A preview of what’s to come’: Astronomer reacts to photos from Webb telescope

The James Webb Space Telescope is showcasing a view of the universe never before seen.

Images released by NASA on Tuesday show the deepest visuals of space we have ever experienced, and astronomers couldn’t be more excited.

“This is spectacular because we’ve never seen it before,” Washington-based astronomer Ethan Siegel said. “This is just a preview of what’s to come. This science data, these releases (of new pictures), they were taken over the span of days.

“This is just a preview of some really spectacular science that’s going to come.”

Being so invested in the cosmos, Siegel says it was easy to feel emotional about all the pictures and information being made available after the teaser on Monday.

He said Tuesday’s announcement was a long time in the making.

“This moment where the first images arrive, that’s when you feel it in your gut,” Siegel said. “It’s real, and it’s everything that we’ve been working for.”

✋🏼 Galactic high five!

In Webb’s image of Stephan’s Quintet, we see 5 galaxies, 4 of which interact. (The left galaxy is in the foreground!) Webb will revolutionize our knowledge of star formation & gas interactions in these galaxies: https://t.co/tlougFWg8B #UnfoldTheUniverse pic.twitter.com/b2kH1tSyMs

— NASA Webb Telescope (@NASAWebb) July 12, 2022

The first images of Webb’s observations were selected by a group of representatives from NASA, different organizations tied to the space agency and the Space Telescope Science Institute.

Astronomers around the world will have their chance to observe anything from objects within our solar system to the early universe using the telescope’s tools.

Siegel believes the telescope will offer more than just incredible views of space from thousands of light years away.

“For me, this is a reminder — especially in times when people are so divided — that we all have something that unites us,” he said. “It shows that if we can put aside our differences for like, five minutes, we can make some amazing discoveries.

“We’re daring to look at the universe in a way we’ve never looked at it before.”

Put a ring on it! 💍

Compare views of the Southern Ring nebula and its pair of stars by Webb’s NIRCam (L) & MIRI (R) instruments. The dimmer, dying star is expelling gas and dust that Webb sees through in unprecedented detail: https://t.co/tlougFWg8B #UnfoldTheUniverse pic.twitter.com/yOMMmQcAfA

— NASA Webb Telescope (@NASAWebb) July 12, 2022

The $10-billion telescope was launched Dec. 25 from South America. After completing a complex deployment sequence in space, Webb underwent months of commissioning where its mirrors were aligned, and its instruments were calibrated to its space environment and prepared for science.

Siegel can’t wait to see what is discovered next.

“What you’re seeing now is just a selection of some of the things we know Webb is good for looking at,” he said. “We’re almost definitely going to find things that are not represented in its first scientific results. That will also blow us away in ways we’ve never imagined.

“Over the next 20 years, but especially over the coming year, I’m prepared to have my socks knocked off multiple times.”

The pictures taken by the telescope can be viewed by clicking here.