“The images are being taken at the moment,” NASA’s head of scientific missions Thomas Zurbuchen told reporters Wednesday. “There is already some amazing science in the box, and some more should not be taken yet as we go along. We are in the middle of removing story creation data.” NASA plans to release many images on July 12, the opening observations of the “first light” from the space telescope and a potentially groundbreaking moment for the field of astronomy. Already have access to the upcoming James Webb images? If so, do not hesitate to send them to [email protected]
Big Feels
It is an important occasion and the emotions are already high. “What I have seen has moved me, as a scientist, as an engineer and as a human being,” NASA Deputy Director Pam Melroy told reporters. Zurbuchen also admitted that he was in awe of the new images. “It is really difficult not to look at the universe in a new light and not just have a moment that is deeply personal,” he told a news conference. “It’s an emotional moment when you see nature suddenly release some of its secrets. And I would like you to imagine it and look forward to it.” The images are expected to include unprecedented images from the depths of the universe and the atmosphere surrounding a distant exoplanet, potentially giving us a taste of a habitable world other than our own. It’s the culmination of more than a decade of research and a $ 10 billion investment that could soon pay off big. No wonder scientists working on the project feel a little emotional. READ MORE: NASA Scientists Say Images From Webb Telescope Almost Tears [Ars Technica] More about the telescope: James Webb hit by a small meteorite, says NASA
