Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF -Fri-Yay Good News

~ John W. Howell

Today’s good news story comes from the Good News Network. I have purposely left in several links since they show other photos taken from the Webb Telescope. If you have the time, they are spectacular. Here’s the story.

Rho Ophiuichi – Credits NASA ESA CSA STScI Klaus Pontoppidan STScI

NASA Celebrates ‘One Year of Science’ From Webb Telescope with Jaw-Dropping Image

By

Andy Corbley

It’s been a long and successful year for the James Webb Space Telescope, and to mark the anniversary of its entry into service, NASA has shown off Webb’s vibrant picture of a small star-forming region in the Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex.

“From our cosmic backyard in the solar system to distant galaxies near the dawn of time, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has delivered on its promise of revealing the universe like never before in its first year of science operations,” NASA stated.

The first-anniversary image displays star birth “like it’s never been seen before,” full of detailed, impressionistic texture. The subject is the Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex, the closest star-forming region to Earth.

“It is a relatively small, quiet stellar nursery, but you’d never know it from Webb’s chaotic close-up,” boasts NASA. “Jets bursting from young stars crisscross the image, impacting the surrounding interstellar gas and lighting up molecular hydrogen, shown in red. Some stars display the telltale shadow of a circumstellar disk (dust and matter), the makings of future planetary systems.”

Two critical differences single out the JWST as such a remarkable machine: the first is that it sees into infrared light—a spectrum which the human eye cannot see, and the second is that it orbits the second LaGrange Point a million miles from Earth, removing any light pollution of our world from diluting its imagery.

It’s made some important discoveries and snapped some incredible photographs. From our own solar system, Webb has clarified details on Jupiter, such as the planet’s minuscule rings, as well as the Jovian aurorae, on Neptune, where the telescope was able to clearly image the planet’s rings and moons together for the first time, and from Saturn where it was able to gather exquisite data on the effect of methane clouds in Saturn’s atmosphere.

Webb has also been studying Saturn’s moons and managed to record a plume of water erupting from the surface of the ocean world Enceladus that was 6,000 miles long.

Outside the solar system, the JWST has taken amazing photos of the oldest galaxies ever found, created just 500 million years after the Big Bang, of an exploding star in the constellation Cassiopeia, and also lent a hand to a European effort to study X-ray light in the universe with a 4-panel mosaic of technological artwork. 

“In just one year, the James Webb Space Telescope has transformed humanity’s view of the cosmos, peering into dust clouds and seeing light from faraway corners of the universe for the very first time,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “Every new image is a new discovery, empowering scientists around the globe to ask and answer questions they once could never dream of.”

“Thousands of engineers, scientists, and leaders poured their life’s passion into this mission, and their efforts will continue to improve our understanding of the origins of the universe—and our place in it.”

The good news here is the human quest for knowledge is being met. Today’s JohnKu talks about the value of learning new things. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Learning by John W. Howell © 2023

Like an ocean swell,

Lifts every boat the same way . . .

Learning lifts us all.

84 thoughts on “Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF -Fri-Yay Good News”

  9. That’s an amazing photo, John. I’ll never forget the feeling I had when I first viewed Saturn through a telescope. Amazing.

    Love your new header photo, by the way.

    Liked by 2 people

  17. I have been following along with these images the last year. They are not only beyond amazing but breath taking too. Great post, John!

    Liked by 2 people

  20. The universe is ever-expanding and incredibly beautiful. Thank you for sharing this inspirational story. We all need to turn our eyes to the heavens. That one simple act might help us in the everyday. Loved your JohnKu. 😊

    Liked by 2 people

  23. I love this. It’s all so fascinating.
    I adore the images, and will follow the links as soon as I say Than you for this post and the wonderful JohnKu!
    Learning rocks!
    🌟X 💫X ✨X 🪐X

    Liked by 3 people

  26. Indeed…. ” Learning lifts us All “… in the last line of your poem…
    We know so little about our Universe… and we will learn so very much more as time and progress goes on… Wonderful image and share John.. Thank you 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

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