First stars in telescope's sights

[glenc]

This is part of a long article on the James Webb Space Telescope.

the James Webb Space Telescope, named after a former administrator of Nasa, is not going to repeat the science carried out by its predecessor. While Hubble gazed at the Universe in optical and ultra-violet wavelengths, JWST will look primarily in the infrared.

JWST's primary mirror will be 6.6m (22ft) in diameter, compared with Hubble's 2.4m (7.9ft) mirror.

The telescope is due to launch on a European Ariane 5 from Kourou in 2013. With its tennis court-sized sunshield and huge mirror, JWST is so big it has to be folded up to get it into the rocket fairing.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6254991.stm

[iceman]

Really excited about this one..

[glenc]

Webb's mirror is 7.5 times bigger than Hubble's mirror in area. :eyepop:

[AstroJunk]

It sounds like it will be amazingly valuable scientifically by imaging in the infrared, and of course, it should be a lot easier to build a massive mirror (or set of mirrors) for a longer wavelength.

I doubt it will capture the hearts of the public (me!) in the same way as Hubble with its stunning nebulae images though.

[GrahamL]

Is this new one the big brother to the spitzer glen ?
http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/spitzer/index.shtml

wonder what this ones going to give us .. maybe lots or more :thumbsup: ?