First Webb images
The correct – although overused – word is “awesome.”
For example:
Webb’s First Deep Field is galaxy cluster SMACS 0723, and it is teeming with thousands of galaxies – including the faintest objects ever observed in the infrared.
Webb’s image is approximately the size of a grain of sand held at arm’s length, a tiny sliver of the vast universe. The combined mass of this galaxy cluster acts as a gravitational lens, magnifying more distant galaxies, including some seen when the universe was less than a billion years old. This deep field, taken by Webb’s Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam), is a composite made from images at different wavelengths…
This image shows the galaxy cluster SMACS 0723 as it appeared 4.6 billion years ago, with many more galaxies in front of and behind the cluster.
At a time of societal collapse, it is good to be reminded, in such spectacular fashion, of the majesty of the cosmos, and, at a time when it is well-nigh impossible to maintain any faith in any institution or in any organization, it is also good to be reminded that at least one entity funded by the long-suffering taxpayers of our dying republic can do something of true and lasting significance, nor will the previous images from the old Hubble ever cease to enchant and to inspire wonder.
In case anybody was wondering, the reason why the brighter stars always have 6 prominent diffraction spikes around them in the JWST images has to do with the hexagonal mirror segments.
I know I’m going to sound cynical, but those images so far are not impressive to me. The galaxy cluster, the planetary nebula, and the stellar nursery have all been imaged before by Hubble. I understand why they would want to re-shoot some standard spectacular objects. And it does show the telescope is functioning well. Nothing here that is a breakthrough discovery. Most impressive to me, was the spectrum from the hot gas giant planet showing molecular bands. Now that was interesting, but not a “golly gee” image.
Get a life, physics guy. You don’t sound cynical. You sound beaten down and burned out. Renew the wonder or wander in shadow.
Here’s your real question:
2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
I enjoy thinking about the various perspectives one could have on these pictures.
When atheists are confronted with the vastness of the universe, they wonder how anyone could believe a supreme being would care about humans, who are as significant as a grain of sand. When I’m confronted with the vastness of the universe I am dumbfounded that there are people who don’t believe in God.
Some people think about how much universe there is out there and feel alone. I see images like this and feel excited, knowing that there must be other intelligent life forms somewhere.
I also have to wonder how many people don’t think about any of these things, either because they’re too preoccupied with meeting their basic needs to reflect on outer space, or there isn’t a lot going on in their minds at all. We on the right joke about “NPC’s” a lot, but I have a hard time believing that there are people who don’t see these pictures and experience awe, wonder, and curiosity. You’d have to be under the age of six, in calendar years or mentally, to not have your thoughts racing at the sight of these images, IMHO.
GVDL is, of course, quoting the Book of Job, as well as being a dick to physicsguy (SOP for GVDL).
However, looking up the ending to Job, I noticed something I hadn’t before when God is describing the Leviathan — a terrible mythical sea creature.
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41:14 Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about.
41:15 His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal.
41:16 One is so near to another, that no air can come between them.
41:17 They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered.
41:18 By his [sneezings] a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
41:19 Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out.
https://ebible.org/kjv/Job.htm
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In 1966 Roger Zelazny, a bold new science fiction talent, won the Nebula Award for Best Novelette.
Its title?
“The Doors of His Face, the Lamps of His Mouth”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Doors_of_His_Face,_The_Lamps_of_His_Mouth
Those rascally writers! Getting great title ideas from the Bible. I love connecting dots like this.
Anyway, “Doors” is a cracking good read from one of the SF greats for cracking good reads. I don’t know how many times I’ve read/listened to Zelazny’s Amber series.
“Beyond a certain degree of complexity, technology is indistinguishable from magic”
I wonder if the same might apply to the universe.
Gerard,
Not beaten down, and I have a life. Isn’t part of being a scientist to express skepticism?
I’ve seen too many of these “dog and pony shows” from NASA. For just about every space probe they put one of these on with the most spectacular looking images and lots of breathless exclamations from mainly female and POC scientists (gotta show they’re woke). Like I said, I know why they do this: to keep the money flowing from Congress, the prez, and the public. I don’t blame them one bit for doing so; it works and also helps to keep the real science they are doing moving along. Like I said, nice pics but no real new science in any of them except for the spectrum. I was shocked they even put that up as it was real data as opposed to pretty, highly image-processed pics. I know good science is going to come from the telescope, but not at the moment.
physicsguy:
Quite right, beautiful, but yeah, I’ve seen those before too.
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Gordon Cooper: You know what makes this bird go up? FUNDING makes this bird go up.
Gus Grissom: He’s right. No bucks, no Buck Rogers.
–“The Right Stuff” (1983)
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These days we must be grateful that anything, which comes out of the government, works at all.
Fun fact to remember next time you’re looking at a picture of the JWST itself – how much gold? About five mens wedding rings.
Came across that while trying to figure out my question from the other day.
thx, nonapod, for note on hex mirror segments.
I think these fotos are real-life fairy tale cool – better than Disney.
But I don’t believe, anymore, in Faster Than Light travel, for living beings. Maybe for information, and remote copy printing, but there’s so little magic in Sci Fi without FTL.
Isn’t “the force” essentially non-muggle Harry Potter style magic?
“The Three Body Problem” and “The Dark Forest” are pretty convincing that we humans are foolish to publish our existence and location.
On the other hand, Grabby Aliens are already being modelled by such genius folk as Robin Hanson.
http://robinhanson.com/wildideas.html
https://www.overcomingbias.com/
https://www.overcomingbias.com/?s=grabby+aliens
But I’m now so much in the current political rabbit hole, there’s little mental energy for SF alien speculations. I’m sad about it, a bit; it’s why …
I haven’t strongly followed Hubble & Hubble fotos.
Thus, this Webb photo remains
awesome.