JWST 14th – 15th August 2023, Slip-sliding away in Sagittarius.

[Dennis]

After watching an enthralling Netflix documentary covering the James Webb Space Telescope, (JWST), I opened the JPL Horizons Web Application and searched for the JWST.

The ephemeris from JPL Horizons indicated that the JWST, would be high up in the skies, located in the constellation of Sagittarius. Even better, outside, the skies were clear.

I managed to collect 5 sets of (60 sec) image runs, whilst dodging some intermittent thin, wispy clouds.

• Run 02 - 60 frames 8:07PM to 9:08PM AEST (UT+10)
• Run 03 - 57 frames 9:15PM to 10:13PM AEST (UT+10)
• Run 04 - 48 frames 10:223PM to 11:11PM AEST (UT+10)
• Run 05 - 60 frames 11:13PM to 00:14AM AEST (UT+10)
• Run 06 - 60 frames 00:26AM to 01:27AM AEST (UT+10)

Each Run was processed separately in PixInsight, with the 5 output files then Aligned and Combined into a final composite image revealing the curved trail of the JWST.

Imaging start time - 2023-08-14 10:06:36 UTC (Run 02)
Imaging end time - 2023-08-14 15:27:46 UTC (Run 06)

Raw Image details.

• Tak Mewlon 210 F11.5
• Tak x0.8 Reducer/Flattener
• QHY268M Camera
• Scale: 0.726 arcseconds/pixel
• 2137mm F10.2
• 14th – 15th August 2023
• Brisbane, QLD

Cheers

Dennis

[RichardJ (Richard)]

Goodness gracious Dennis. That’s fabulous.
Richard.

[AstroViking (Steve)]

Is there anything you can't image, Dennis? Quasars, near-earth orbit asteroids, JWST... The mind boggles.

[Dave882 (David)]

Fantastic Dennis. I’m so glad you tracked it for so long too. Such a fascinating capture. Great work again!!

[N1 (Mirko)]

Utterly amazing

[Dennis]

Thanks Richard, Steve, David and Mirko, I appreciate your comments.

With my obstructed horizon, light pollution and having to set up and tear down each night, these one-night projects are more suited to how I can operate. Also, I suck at long exposure, multi-session, LRGB imaging.

Here a couple of interesting links to some facts about the JWST and its location at the L2 Point.

A few JWST facts:

https://www.jwst.nasa.gov/content/about/faqs/facts.html

1.5 million km from Earth orbiting the L2 Point. This one has a fascinating animation which shows the JWST L2 orbit.

https://www.jwst.nasa.gov/content/about/orbit.html

Cheers

Dennis

[multiweb (Marc)]

Very cool Dennis. Awesome capture and write up.

[Peter Ward]

Originally Posted by multiweb

Very cool Dennis. Awesome capture and write up.

Ditto what Marc said. Cool

[h0ughy (David)]

OMG what a catch. You are the man of the hour Dennis! Stunning detective work and super awesome write up. That image tells 10million words

[Dennis]

Thank you, Marc, Peter and David, I appreciate your comments.

This year has seen some funny weather patterns, so it was good to get a reasonably clear night for a change.

I hope the folks at the Qld Astrofest are getting some clear skies.

Cheers

Dennis

[Averton (P and C)]

Another amazing capture Dennis!!

[Dennis]

Thank you Clare & Peter, I appreciate your comments.

A JW enthusiast on CN posted a link to a very educational YouTube video explaining how the JWST Flight Dynamics Team calculate and maintain the JWST orbit near L2, and how periodic adjustments are made in order to keep the telescope from wandering off into space.

It looks like placing a spacecraft at the Lagrange points is not as easy or as simple as one would think.

How James Webb Orbits "Nothing"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybn8-_QV8Tg

Cheers

Dennis

[Averton (P and C)]

Originally Posted by Dennis

Thank you Clare & Peter, I appreciate your comments.

A JW enthusiast on CN posted a link to a very educational YouTube video explaining how the JWST Flight Dynamics Team calculate and maintain the JWST orbit near L2, and how periodic adjustments are made in order to keep the telescope from wandering off into space.

It looks like placing a spacecraft at the Lagrange points is not as easy or as simple as one would think.

How James Webb Orbits "Nothing"

https://www.youtube....h?v=ybn8-_QV8Tg

Cheers

Dennis

Thanks Dennis.
Very interesting video.
The link didn't work but we just searched for the title.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybn8-_QV8Tg
Maybe this link will work.

[Dennis]

Thanks Clare and Peter, I have fixed my link – I think I left the square brackets on.

When I grow up, I now want to be a Flight Dynamics Specialist.

Cheers

Dennis