The first science-quality images from NASA's next- generation observatory were shared with the world.
The telescope was launched in December and spent seven months preparing. During an event held at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland on July 12th, they discussed the stunning new data, which include crystal-clear images of distant nebulas and galaxies, as well as a detailed look at a hot exoplanet
The chief scientist at NASA's astrophysics division said during the news conference that people sometimes see pictures of space and it makes them feel small. The pictures make me feel powerful because a team of people can make an unbelievable instrument to look at the universe.
He gestured to a screen behind the speakers that displayed an image of the massive cloud of dust and gas located some 7,600 light-years away from Earth. We are able to do that when we want to.
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The image combines views from two instruments, the Near-Infrared Camera, which maps stars and galaxies, and the Mid-Infrared Instrument, which paints the massive cloud of dust and gas.
"We're scientists and these images are used to do science, but when I saw that one in particular, I felt like I was in a gallery," said René Doyon, an exoplanet scientist at the University of Montreal in Canada. This is an artwork.
A portrait of a second nebula called the Southern Ring and a swirl of galactic activity were included in the new images.
Even though the news conference was held to mark the new views of the universe, astronomy reflected on the emotional impact of all the images that have been taken.
"The first focused images that we took, where they were razor-sharp, was the one that I had the most emotional reaction to, and that's where we took them," Jane said during the news conference. She remembers seeing the first view of the standard star at the observatory.
She said that she went and cried. It was a combination of giddy in the room, looking at the data, and then, like, going and having a little sob. Because it's working.
The observatory's mirror is large enough to stir feelings like these.
He said that they should expect what they see. I nearly broke my jaw several times.
The views of the Carina Nebula image speak for themselves. A deputy project scientist for communications on the mission explained how winds from newborn stars sculpted the gas that glows so bright.
"I'm amazed by what I'm seeing," he said.
Scientists hope that there will be many more such images over the course of 20 years. A few billion hairless apes will be watching the shenanigans that those images will reveal.
The Carina Nebula was always there. We had to build a telescope to look at what was there.
Smith said that he was awe at not just the images themselves, but also the humans behind the observatory. People in a broken world are able to do something right and see some of the grandeur that is out there.
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