Keith’s note: One of the more profound things generated by the Webb Space Telescope is this view of the center of our galaxy. Contrary to what you’d think, the observation team’s Principal Investigator on this image wasn’t some middle-aged, tenured professor. Instead, he’s an undergrad at UVA. According to a NASA release “There’s never been any infrared data on this region with the level of resolution and sensitivity we get with Webb, so we are seeing lots of features here for the first time,” said the observation team’s principal investigator Samuel Crowe, an undergraduate student at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. “Webb reveals an incredible amount of detail, allowing us to study star formation in this sort of environment in a way that wasn’t possible previously.” The Artemis Generation is making its mark. See “UVA’s Young, Rising Astronomy Star” for more about Samuel Crowe.

Keith’s note: I did a lot of TV today. One question that the French, Turkish, Qatari, and German hosts asked me today is why this is important to people – real people. I gave the usual answers about science, knowledge, and maybe a few technological benefits. But I realized that I need to do more homework. I *really* need to give good examples of actual relevance to this global audience. […]

– Webb Reveals Cosmic Cliffs, Glittering Landscape of Star Birth – Webb Sheds Light on Galaxy Evolution, Black Holes – Webb Reveals Steamy Atmosphere of Distant Planet in Detail – Webb Captures Dying Star’s Final ‘Performance’ in Fine Detail The First James Webb Space Telescope is Awe Inspiring “The first image of the James Webb Space Telescope did not disappoint and when you think for a minute what you’re looking […]

Statement by NASA Administrator Nelson – Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Committee on Appropriations United States Senate, NASA “Later this year, NASA will launch the James Webb Space Telescope (Webb), the largest and most complex space science observatory ever built. Webb is an infrared telescope designed to observe the farthest objects, broadening and transforming our understanding of the early universe. It will see the light from the […]

NASA’s Webb Reaches Alignment Milestone, Optics Working Successfully “On March 11, the Webb team completed the stage of alignment known as “fine phasing.” At this key stage in the commissioning of Webb’s Optical Telescope Element, every optical parameter that has been checked and tested is performing at, or above, expectations. The team also found no critical issues and no measurable contamination or blockages to Webb’s optical path. The observatory is […]

Some cool pics of immense @MorganStanley advertisements in New York City in December after the launch of #NASAWebb with #astronomy and #astrobiology themes. #JWST #NASA pic.twitter.com/npbgCJ2V67 — NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) January 13, 2022

James Webb Space Telescope 26 December, 2021 Update – First Mid-Course Correction Burn Completed, NASA “At 7:50 pm EST, December 25, 2021, Webb’s first mid-course correction burn began. It lasted 65 minutes and is now complete. This burn is one of two milestones that are time critical — the first was the solar array deployment, which happened shortly after launch.” NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope launches in French Guiana, Washington […]

The James Webb Space Telescope Has Left Earth “The James Webb Space Telescope is safely in space, powered on and communicating with ground controllers. Webb continues in coast phase, and is now oriented correctly with respect to the Sun. At approximately 30 minutes after launch, Webb’s solar array began to open up. It is now fully deployed and we have confirmed that the spacecraft is power positive.” James Webb Space […]

Testing Confirms Webb Telescope on Track for Targeted Dec. 22 Launch, Arianespace “Engineering teams have completed additional testing confirming NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is ready for flight, and launch preparations are resuming toward Webb’s target launch date of Wednesday, Dec. 22, at 7:20 a.m. EST. Additional testing was conducted this week to ensure the observatory’s health following an incident that occurred when the release of a clamp band caused […]

Keith’s note: I just watched “The Hunt For Planet B“, a documentary on the James Webb Space Telescope which aired on CNN. I must say that this is a splendid film. It managed to capture the scope and breadth of what JWST is going to do and the scientific and political complexities that have dogged its development. Most importantly, however, this fim is about the people who have labored to […]