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Ever since the invention of telescopes, there has been more demand for research and observations of the universe. With a growing number of diverse telescopes, each new one that came out improved, advanced, and changed our perspective on how we see the cosmos and gave us sharper and brighter resolution. With the combination of engineering and astronomy, it has marked the birth of Space telescopes. Space telescopes are essential observation instruments and are used as a technique providing researchers and astronomers the capability to automatically monitor space. They are telescopes that are launched into space serving the purpose of what a ground-based telescope cant do and issues that are faced with using a ground telescope.
Unlike ground-based telescopes space telescopes are not affected by the earths atmosphere such as weather, light, and pollution, making them more expensive to invest in, Although cost and damage are a consequence, the results and observations made from space telescopes are significantly much better and clearer compared to ground-based telescopes (O, Jeffery., O, Megan., Donahue., Schneider. N., Voit.M. 2016. p178). Due to constant changes within the earths atmosphere, the resolution from ground-based telescopes is not as sharp causing blurriness, hence the only solution was to build space telescopes to collect much sharper observations of the universe (O, Jeffery., et al. 2016. p175).
Because radiation poses a threat to us besides visible light and radio waves, there is an invisible layer of protection preventing us from being exposed to infrared radiation, ultraviolet rays, X-rays, and gamma rays (English N, 2017 p10). However, because of this reason space telescopes are designed to image these radiations as using the whole light spectrum can determine and find new and fascinating observations.
Hubble space telescope
The Hubble Space Telescope still remains the most iconic space telescope today 28 years after it was built(1985), launched (1990) and functioned (1993). With the collaboration of engineers, astronomers, and scientists, started the launch of the Hubble, the images provided by Hubble showed the complexity and dynamic nature of the cosmos and this changed the way the universe is seen. Figure 1.0. On the left is an image produced of a galaxy from a ground-based telescope similar in size to Hubble. The right is the same galaxy produced by Hubble, Adaptive Optics is used in Hubble to sharpen the resolution. (Hubble 15 years of discovery, 2006)
Made with glass and coated with aluminum combined with a compound that reflected ultraviolet lights, Hubble was a reflecting telescope and was built with a 2.4m diameter primary mirror which was smaller than expected however it was powerful enough to capture what was needed (Christensen, L.L & Fosbury, R. A. 2006. p24-25). With the wide field of vision, it provided the power to monitor the whole electromagnetic spectrum within the universe.
Just like the primary mirror, the secondary mirror was also made from glass and coated with aluminum, however as both primary and secondary mirrors are hyperbolic in shape it was hard to assemble and test (Chen, James, L., & Chen, Adam. 2015. p2). The result of Hubbles sharp and deep captures is a result of its solar panels converting sunlight into electricity. By emitting enough power from these panels it allows all the other parts of Hubble to operate at the same time and with stable and strong panels it produces sharper and clearer images. With built-in communication antennas, Hubble sends its data to a satellite first in the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System which then transfers it to White Sands, New Mexico, USA (Christensen, L.L & Fosbury, R. A. 2006. p26).
Hubble was involved in 4 missions in 1993,1997,1999 and 2002 (Christensen, L.L & Fosbury, R. A. 2006. p19) Its first mission was a huge success, with the success of the first Hubble Space Telescope mission NASA managed to revive themselves from the failure of the Space Shuttle Challenger which caused several damages (Chen, James, L., & Chen, Adam. 2015. p4). With 2 teams of astronauts completing spacewalks in 35 hours and 28 minutes, it had marked the end of the first mission with results showing high-resolution photos captured from the Hubble space telescope.
It was in July 1994, several months after its first mission which marked one of Hubbles greatest findings, when it captured pieces of a comet tearing apart Jupiters gravitational field and colliding with its atmosphere. Through this opportunity, it showed its capability of being able to capture planets that flew by in a high-quality resolution (English N, 2017 p52). In addition, the observation made of a planet orbiting another star and the atmosphere of other exoplanets was considered one of Hubbles major achievements.
November 2008 marked the discovery of visible light of a planet orbiting the star Fomalhaut, considering the fact that it was able to capture a planet 1 billion times lighter than its parent star was an achievement (English N, 2017 p283). With advancements in technology, the Hubble telescope was also upgraded, As years have passed by, it has managed to capture the most amazing and fascinating images of the cosmos, Its most famous image is the Pillars of Creation which is part of Messier 16 allowing researchers to gain a deeper understanding of the universe.
James Webb Space telescope
As the Hubble space telescope has soon come to an end it has successfully served its purpose and job to provide amazing high-resolution captures of the cosmos. Its ancestor James Webb space telescope also known as The Next Generation Telescope is in the process of being designed, built, and later released in the future. With the universe changing and developing it is built with upgrades and advancements from Hubble for future observations. It is expected to showcase the development of telescopes holding the power to capture next-level images of the universe. Because of this it is said to be extremely complex and advanced holding the capability to make discoveries that werent within Hubbles ability. In order to do so, it is designed with an 18-segmented 6.5m primary mirror which will be facing and directed near the earth’s sun point (Kalirai, 2018). Designed to transit and move around the sun, moon, and earth once every year, it will be directly facing radiation with temperatures at least 358K and for this reason, a 21 by 14m sun shield is constructed and serves as a layer of protection preventing its instruments from heating up too much ensuring it stays below -220 degree Celsius (Kalirai, 2018).
A combination of infrared imaging instruments such as spectroscopy and coronagraphy is used and built into it to discover and show the redshifted light of the electromagnetic spectrum of most galaxies in space (Kalirai, 2018). The composition of stars, the atmosphere of planets, the motion of objects, and the physical environment in an astronomical object can be gathered and measured through the use of a method called Spectroscopy. While coronagraphy is a method where there is an attachment used on a telescope to block the sunlight allowing the faintest and lightest stars and astronomical objects to be seen, doing so can assist researchers and astronomers in monitoring and capturing objects near the sun without the sunlight acting as a barrier.
Its size is a barrier that may be preventing it from being launched sooner. As the rocket is smaller in shape with dimensions of 4.6m and 16.2m (Kalirai, 2018), there are modifications that must be made before it is launched. In saying so, Webb is at least 10m in 2 dimensions and 20 in the third, hence engineers, scientists, and more have designed Webb in a way where it is able to fold and compress together decreasing its size (Kalirai, 2018), however, there are still a lot of tests that need to be completed, ensuring it is designed accurately to serve and perform its job. Once it has been launched into space it will soon be able to unfold itself as seen in the figure above Figure 1.3. James Webb Space Telescope unfolding, (Kalirai. J, 2017)
Webb has been designed on a very technical and complex scale, with an 18 beryllium segment telescope, 4 science instruments, a fine guide sensor, and a spacecraft acting as a path of communication, direction guide, and orbit maintenance (Kalirai, 2018) it is expected to have the capability to make major new revolutionary discoveries following its main goals which are divided into 4 main categories.
The end of the Dark Ages: First Light and Reionization aiming to find the first formed luminous and ionization history (Stiavelli, M., Thronson, H.A., & Tielens, A. G. G. M. 2009 p.13) The Assembly of Galaxies which involves monitoring astronomical objects in a very far distant such as the very first stars and how galaxies and dark matter, gas, stars and metal evolved from the epoch of reionization (Stiavelli, M et al. 2009 p.14). Webb will serve its purpose by capturing molecular clouds, planetary systems and migration, star clusters and more allowing researchers to comprehend the start and development of stars and planets which is involved in The Birth of Stars and Protoplanetary systems (English N, 2017 p283). To find the origins and history of living organisms Webb also aims to discover the physical and chemical properties of planetary systems tied with The Planetary System Origins Life (Gardener, Jonathan, Mather, John, Clampin, Mark, Doyone, Reyne, Greenhouse, Matthew, Hammel, Heidi, Hutchings, Jakobsen, Peter, Lilly, Simon.2006). Through monitoring infrared light within the electromagnetic spectrum, these missions can be achieved more effectively and efficiently (English N, 2017 p287). Unlike Hubble, it focuses its capability to perform infrared astronomy which allows researchers to identify further galaxies. Figure 1.4. James Webb Space Telescope creation (NASA, 2019)
However, the discovery of exoplanets is also another objective of the James Webb Telescope. With the use of Spectroscopy utilized by Webb to determine the planets atmosphere, ground-based telescopes combined with the transit method will identify faint lights of a star as its planets transit between us and the star. Through this researchers will be able to measure the mass of astronomical objects providing the ability to search for other planets’ atmospheres (English N, 2017 p293)
Conclusion
In conclusion, both The Hubble and James Webb Space Telescope have served their purpose and job allowing researchers to gain a greater and deeper understanding of the universe which is changing many perspectives on how the cosmos is seen now. From the launch of The Hubble Space Telescope, it captured high-resolution images and successfully completed four of its missions as the catalyst for revolutionary space advancements. Its ancestor The James Webb Telescope is soon to be launched and with its aim to discover further, lighter, and fainter astronomical objects no doubt it will enhance and determine the future of the study of astronomy. Thus, it is safe to say that with evolving and advancing technology, the future of identifying astronomical objects will be enhanced with soon-to-come telescopes with stronger capability and power than Hubble and James Webb.
References
- Chen, James, L., & Chen, Adam. (2015). A Guide to Hubble Space Telescope Objects: Their Selection, Location and Significance. [SpringerLink eBooks Collection]. Retrieved from https://link-springer-com.wwwproxy1.library.unsw.edu.au/book/10.1007%2F978-3-319-18872-0
- Christensen, L.L & Fosbury, R. A. (2006). Hubble 15 Years of Discovery. [SpringerLink eBooks Collection]. Retrieved from https://link-springer-com.wwwproxy1.library.unsw.edu.au/book/10.1007%2F0-387-36082-4
- English, N. (2017). Space Telescopes: Capturing the Rays of the Electromagnetic Spectrum. [ProQuest eBooks Collection]. Retrieved from https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/unsw/reader.action?docID=4737165
- Gardener, Jonathan, Mather, John, Clampin, Mark, Doyone, Reyne, Greenhouse, Matthew, Hammel, Heidi, Hutchings, Jakobsen, Peter, Lilly, Simon, Long, Knox, Luinne, Mccaughrean, Mountain, Matt, Nella, Rieke, George, Marcia, Rix, Hans-Walter, Smith, Eric, Sonneborn, George, Stiavelli, Massimo, Stockman, H., Windhorst, Rogier, Wright, Gillian. (2006). The James Webb Space Telescope. Space Science Reviews, 123(4), 485-606. doi: 10.1007/s11214-006-8315-7
- Kalirai, J. (2018). Scientific Discovery With the James Webb Space Telescope. Contemporary Physics, 59(3), 251-290. doi:10.1080/00107514.2018.1467648
- Miller, G. , Rosenthal, D., Cohen, W., & Johnson, M. (1987). Expert Systems Tools for Hubble Space Telescope Observation Scheduling. Telematics and Informatics, 4(4), 301-311. doi: 10.1016/S0736-5853(87)80016-3
- NASA. (2019). James Webb Space Telescope [image]. Retrieved from https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2019/nasa-s-james-webb-space-telescope-has-been-assembled-for-the-first-time
- NASA. (2018). The Pillars of Creation [image]. Retrieved from https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/the-pillars-of-creation
- O, Jeffery., O, Megan., Donahue., Schneider, N., Voit.M. (2016). The Cosmic Perspective,8th edition. USA, Boston: Pearson
- Stiavelli,M.,Thronson,H,A., & A. G. G. M. Tielens. (2009). Astrophysics in the Next Decade: The James Webb Space Telescope and Concurrent Facilities. [SpringerLink eBooks Collection]. Retrieved from https://link-springer-com.wwwproxy1.library.unsw.edu.au/book/10.1007%2F978-1-4020-9457-6
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