James Webb Space Telescope, information, updates and discussion |
James Webb Space Telescope, information, updates and discussion |
Aug 23 2005, 02:01 PM
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Member Group: Members Posts: 134 Joined: 13-March 05 Member No.: 191 |
The manufacture of the JWST mirror blanks has now been completed.
Despite this milestone, the fate of JWST is still somewhat precarious, because although the scientific bang from the telescope is expected to be huge, the bucks required have increased to a staggering $4.5 billion. A Space.com article on the squeeze in NASA's space-based astronomy plans gives some background. The JWST home page can be found here. The Space Telescope Science Institute, which runs Hubble, also has a site here. As does ESA. |
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Jan 9 2022, 07:23 AM
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1276 Joined: 25-November 04 Member No.: 114 |
Out of curiosity does the public know the actual first target planned?
I can't seem to find much about the first public photos planned. |
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Jan 9 2022, 07:34 AM
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2530 Joined: 20-April 05 Member No.: 321 |
An analyst who put their mind to it might be able to make some guesses, but it's not possible to know the exact schedule of observations until it's known when commissioning will end and science observations begin. Some of the planned observations are time-limited and if, say, the start of science were delayed a week, it might mean that one observation would have to be shifted from, eg, August 2022 to August 2023.
Basically, targets on the ecliptic are limited to about 100 days of accessibility each year. Targets far from the ecliptic are limited little or zero. Solar system targets have their own complex timing constraints. And exoplanet transits have their own complex periodicity (particularly if the period is relatively longer). So it's impossible to fully schedule the first year until the precise start of science observations is known. |
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