Tiberius Posted December 13, 2021 Share Posted December 13, 2021 (edited) Pretty cool...if it works. These people won't be sleeping much until that thing is up and working a million miles from home https://www.cbsnews.com/news/james-webb-space-telescope-60-minutes-2021-12-12/ Edited February 14, 2022 by Tiberius 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiberius Posted December 13, 2021 Author Share Posted December 13, 2021 Quote This December 22, may become known as the day the universe changed. That Wednesday, NASA expects to launch the James Webb Space Telescope, the largest and most expensive instrument ever flown. One hundred times more powerful than the 31-year-old Hubble Telescope, Webb can see back in time all the way to the "let there be light" moment—that instant when a cold, dark universe ignited into stars. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Poojer Posted December 13, 2021 Share Posted December 13, 2021 my mind cannot comprehend the ability to look 'back in time' 😵 31 minutes ago, Tiberius said: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted December 13, 2021 Share Posted December 13, 2021 12 minutes ago, The Poojer said: my mind cannot comprehend the ability to look 'back in time' 😵 Like it says in the article, think about seeing the sun and how that's 8 minutes earlier. The farther away something is, the more in the past what you're seeing of it it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sherpa Posted December 13, 2021 Share Posted December 13, 2021 So many incredible things about this scope. It will take nearly six months to get fully deployed and have the science working on it. Orbital point is at Lagrange 2, which is about a million miles from earth and synchronized to earth's orbit around the sun, and protected by a massive heat shield. What gives it it's unique ability is that it senses IR signals instead of visual light, like Hubbell. So many things have to go right, as there is no way to fix it, other than what it can do internally. Super exciting to watch this process. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridgewaycynic2013 Posted December 13, 2021 Share Posted December 13, 2021 Just don't point it towards Earth, and clearly reveal that it's flat. 🤨 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiberius Posted December 13, 2021 Author Share Posted December 13, 2021 7 minutes ago, sherpa said: So many incredible things about this scope. It will take nearly six months to get fully deployed and have the science working on it. Orbital point is at Lagrange 2, which is about a million miles from earth and synchronized to earth's orbit around the sun, and protected by a massive heat shield. What gives it it's unique ability is that it senses IR signals instead of visual light, like Hubbell. So many things have to go right, as there is no way to fix it, other than what it can do internally. Super exciting to watch this process. Hubble was broken when it went up, so sh it can go wrong. But they could go up and work on it. That New Herizons space craft sent to Pluto went dark a few days before it was to pass by and then thankfully rebooted. Ya, if this thing has a problem, it's not going to get fixed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Poojer Posted December 13, 2021 Share Posted December 13, 2021 Yeah, that's pretty incredible 15 minutes ago, Doc said: Like it says in the article, think about seeing the sun and how that's 8 minutes earlier. The farther away something is, the more in the past what you're seeing of it it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhoTom Posted December 13, 2021 Share Posted December 13, 2021 3 hours ago, The Poojer said: my mind cannot comprehend the ability to look 'back in time' 😵 3 hours ago, Doc said: Like it says in the article, think about seeing the sun and how that's 8 minutes earlier. The farther away something is, the more in the past what you're seeing of it it is. 3 hours ago, The Poojer said: Yeah, that's pretty incredible Every time you watch a Bills game on TV, you're experiencing the same thing on a smaller scale. It takes time for the cameras to convert the light to electricity, time to convert that signal to radio waves (or digitize it), time for the waves to reach the satellite and back (or your antenna) or for the digital signal to stream and reach your modem/router, etc. So when you watch the Bills on TV in "real-time," there's a lag. In effect, you're seeing what happened a few seconds ago and, therefore, looking back in time. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Success Posted December 13, 2021 Share Posted December 13, 2021 They've put over a decade into this. I can't imagine how it must feel for them while they're waiting to see if it all goes as planned - I'm nervous, and I'm not even involved. It will greatly expand our knowledge of the cosmos if all goes well. I'm stoked. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warcodered Posted December 14, 2021 Share Posted December 14, 2021 6 hours ago, WhoTom said: Every time you watch a Bills game on TV, you're experiencing the same thing on a smaller scale. It takes time for the cameras to convert the light to electricity, time to convert that signal to radio waves (or digitize it), time for the waves to reach the satellite and back (or your antenna) or for the digital signal to stream and reach your modem/router, etc. So when you watch the Bills on TV in "real-time," there's a lag. In effect, you're seeing what happened a few seconds ago and, therefore, looking back in time. I mean literally everything you see is reflected light so all of it is something that has already happened. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TBBills Posted December 14, 2021 Share Posted December 14, 2021 (edited) I have been waiting for this for years. I cannot wait to see the pictures. Edited December 14, 2021 by TBBills Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wacka Posted December 14, 2021 Share Posted December 14, 2021 For the Hubble picture, it took months for them to process the picture. They have to take them through red, green and blue filters and then combine them to and get the color levels correct. I have a friend ( Buffalonian and UB Grad) that was the head of the office at the Goddard Space Fight Center in Grenbelt, MD that directed where to point the Hubble. He mentioned to me that they had a photo that would blow everyone away. That was in December that year. In the summer they published the "Pillars of Creation" photo. Took them that long to make sure everything was aligned and calibrated. He eventually left there and today one of his twin sons has that job. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nextmanup Posted December 14, 2021 Share Posted December 14, 2021 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marv's Neighbor Posted December 14, 2021 Share Posted December 14, 2021 14 hours ago, Tiberius said: Hopefully it will have more initial success than Hubble. As I recall, Hubble needed a vision correction before it became really useful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sherpa Posted December 14, 2021 Share Posted December 14, 2021 8 hours ago, Wacka said: For the Hubble picture, it took months for them to process the picture. They have to take them through red, green and blue filters and then combine them to and get the color levels correct. Yes. Hubbell pictures are black and white or greyscale, more accurately. The spectacular images published are after processing, which is not to say they are not accurate. The scope has numerous filters and after taking pictures with a number of them, and seeing how much light passes through in each wavelength range, they can get a sense of the true color and then apply that to complete the final image. Hubbell's initial problem was due to an error in testing equipment which ultimately led to the misplacing of the primary mirror, and thus, blurry images. Fortunately an ingenious fix was arrived at, resulting in the fabulous images we have enjoyed for years. Such a fix won't be possible at Webb's orbit location. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bad Things Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 My brother played a part in the Hubble "fix", making some very high spec'd optics for it. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 Launch delayed by two days due to a data uplink issue. Now scheduled to launch on Dec 24. Heads up, Santa! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike in Horseheads Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 On 12/14/2021 at 12:22 AM, Marv's Neighbor said: Hopefully it will have more initial success than Hubble. As I recall, Hubble needed a vision correction before it became really useful. Nothing says SpaceX couldn't try? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gugny Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 On 12/13/2021 at 10:25 AM, The Poojer said: Yeah, that's pretty incredible I wonder how clearly they'll be able to see Uranus. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhoTom Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 6 minutes ago, Gugny said: I wonder how clearly they'll be able to see Uranus. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marv's Neighbor Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 10 minutes ago, Gugny said: I wonder how clearly they'll be able to see Uranus. A black hole? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiberius Posted December 16, 2021 Author Share Posted December 16, 2021 5 hours ago, Gugny said: I wonder how clearly they'll be able to see Uranus. A researcher has booked time to look for Klingons there 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Posted December 16, 2021 Share Posted December 16, 2021 5 minutes ago, Tiberius said: A researcher has booked time to look for Klingons there Don't you mean cling-ons? 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UConn James Posted December 16, 2021 Share Posted December 16, 2021 (edited) On 12/14/2021 at 7:10 PM, Bad Things said: My brother played a part in the Hubble "fix", making some very high spec'd optics for it. My brother flew that fix on “his” plane (he was a USAF Raven which are teams that handle plane security, among other things) to the launch site. On 12/14/2021 at 7:10 PM, Bad Things said: Edited December 16, 2021 by UConn James 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coloradobillsfan Posted December 16, 2021 Share Posted December 16, 2021 I found this to be a pretty succinct video summary of all the stuff that has to go right over the '30 days of horror' 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Success Posted December 17, 2021 Share Posted December 17, 2021 7 hours ago, coloradobillsfan said: I found this to be a pretty succinct video summary of all the stuff that has to go right over the '30 days of horror' It's stunning how much went into this, and how many things have to go right. I didn't think it was possible to root for anything more than getting the Bills in the playoffs - but I'm pulling for this to go smoothly more than that. This would be a big leap. Efforts like this give me faith in humanity. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiberius Posted December 22, 2021 Author Share Posted December 22, 2021 Quote A poor weather forecast has pushed back the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope by a further day. Concerns about high-level winds at the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana mean it won't now happen until 25 December. Everything is set, though. A readiness review for the rocket and the observatory is complete, and launch teams have conducted their final rehearsal. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-59754467 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draconator Posted December 22, 2021 Share Posted December 22, 2021 On 12/13/2021 at 1:53 PM, WhoTom said: Every time you watch a Bills game on TV, you're experiencing the same thing on a smaller scale. It takes time for the cameras to convert the light to electricity, time to convert that signal to radio waves (or digitize it), time for the waves to reach the satellite and back (or your antenna) or for the digital signal to stream and reach your modem/router, etc. So when you watch the Bills on TV in "real-time," there's a lag. In effect, you're seeing what happened a few seconds ago and, therefore, looking back in time. Or if you're streaming, the TV is about 20 to 30 seconds behind my computer, so I have to turn the game off on my computer, because I'll yell "Touchdown" and my wife watching on the TV will be like "They haven't even broke out of the huddle! Shut up!" 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridgewaycynic2013 Posted December 22, 2021 Share Posted December 22, 2021 48 minutes ago, Draconator said: Or if you're streaming, the TV is about 20 to 30 seconds behind my computer, so I have to turn the game off on my computer, because I'll yell "Touchdown" and my wife watching on the TV will be like "They haven't even broke out of the huddle! Shut up!" 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlimShady'sSpaceForce Posted December 22, 2021 Share Posted December 22, 2021 James Webb now a Christmas 🎅 launch https://www.space.com/amp/nasa-james-webb-space-telescope-launch-webcasts i may not be a Rocket 🚀 Scientist but I work with a shipload And NG just happens to be my employer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K-9 Posted December 22, 2021 Share Posted December 22, 2021 On 12/16/2021 at 8:14 PM, Success said: It's stunning how much went into this, and how many things have to go right. I didn't think it was possible to root for anything more than getting the Bills in the playoffs - but I'm pulling for this to go smoothly more than that. This would be a big leap. Efforts like this give me faith in humanity. You might appreciate this video as well. The sheer enthusiasm Dr. Mather has for his work is like the wonder of a child and it’s infectious. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sherpa Posted December 25, 2021 Share Posted December 25, 2021 Thirty minutes to go. Looking good for now. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridgewaycynic2013 Posted December 25, 2021 Share Posted December 25, 2021 On 12/22/2021 at 3:26 PM, SlimShady'sSpaceForce said: And NG just happens to be my employer NG. National Grocers? 🤔 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiberius Posted December 25, 2021 Author Share Posted December 25, 2021 Going smoothly so far 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warcodered Posted December 25, 2021 Share Posted December 25, 2021 Still has months before it's actually finished getting set up, but I think clearing the atmosphere was the biggest hurdle. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlimShady'sSpaceForce Posted December 29, 2021 Share Posted December 29, 2021 Then the fairing deployment Then the Solar Panels Then the Lens and the “Sail” needs to be deployed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4merper4mer Posted December 30, 2021 Share Posted December 30, 2021 12 hours ago, SlimShady'sSpaceForce said: Then the fairing deployment Then the Solar Panels Then the Lens and the “Sail” needs to be deployed. Then the countless years of being seen as a failure because despite many inevitable amazing scientific discoveries, it will discover zero evidence of intelligent aliens. Because there are none. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K-9 Posted December 30, 2021 Share Posted December 30, 2021 2 minutes ago, 4merper4mer said: Then the countless years of being seen as a failure because despite many inevitable amazing scientific discoveries, it will discover zero evidence of intelligent aliens. Because there are none. While discovery of alien life would be interesting, that is not it’s mission. At all. If all goes well when it reaches its destination in six months and starts sending back the images it’s designed to deliver, it will be seen as one of the greatest scientific feats in history. Hell, the fact it was conceived, designed, built, and sent on its way makes it one already in my book. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4merper4mer Posted December 30, 2021 Share Posted December 30, 2021 17 hours ago, K-9 said: While discovery of alien life would be interesting, that is not it’s mission. At all. If all goes well when it reaches its destination in six months and starts sending back the images it’s designed to deliver, it will be seen as one of the greatest scientific feats in history. Hell, the fact it was conceived, designed, built, and sent on its way makes it one already in my book. Although I agree that really doesn’t matter. The news reports about Webb, after an initial grace period, will all be alien false starts. You’ll have to dig for the actual science and the false alien crapola will be endless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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