OT James Webb Space Telescope Updates

[WestSideLion]

Webb Telescope Captures Supernova Appearing Three Times Due to Spacetime Bending

A gravitational lens tripled the event in the night sky and helped astronomers measure the rate at which the universe is expanding.

gizmodo.com

Thanks for sharing these updates, Tom. This stuff underlines how inconsequential we are in the grand scheme of the universe. Here is distant light distorted by a cluster of galaxies (!) 3.6 billion light years away. The light source is likely an order of magnitude more distant than that.

Then the article references a 13 billion (with a B!) year old star spotted in a similar manner. There's no escaping that we are in the midst of learning more about the origins and inner workings of the universe and physics than all learned in human history so far.

And the sheer math involved underlines that there simply must be other forms of intelligent life out in this vastness. Or at least that have existed over different times through the course of 13 billion years.

 

[Woodpecker]

Thanks for sharing these updates, Tom. This stuff underlines how inconsequential we are in the grand scheme of the universe. Here is distant light distorted by a cluster of galaxies (!) 3.6 billion light years away. The light source is likely an order of magnitude more distant than that.

Then the article references a 13 billion (with a B!) year old star spotted in a similar manner. There's no escaping that we are in the midst of learning more about the origins and inner workings of the universe and physics than all learned in human history so far.

And the sheer math involved underlines that there simply must be other forms of intelligent life out in this vastness. Or at least that have existed over different times through the course of 13 billion years.

I can't even comprehend what football discussion boards are like in other universes. I wonder if they're posting about us!

 

[WestSideLion]

I can't even comprehend what football discussion boards are like in other universes. I wonder if they're posting about us!

Given that the observable universe is 46 billion light years in any direction from Earth, most of those other civilizations evolved through sports like football billions of years ago. That assumes they were able to avoid killing themselves.

 

[Zenophile]

Given that the observable universe is 46 billion light years in any direction from Earth, most of those other civilizations evolved through sports like football billions of years ago. That assumes they were able to avoid killing themselves.

Fortunately the light from their Plotit days is just now reaching us.

 

[Woodpecker]

Given that the observable universe is 46 billion light years in any direction from Earth, most of those other civilizations evolved through sports like football billions of years ago. That assumes they were able to avoid killing themselves.

Ah the transfer portal and NIL stories they could tell ...

 

[leinbacker]

And the sheer math involved underlines that there simply must be other forms of intelligent life out in this vastness. Or at least that have existed over different times through the course of 13 billion years.

A long time ago in a galaxy far far away.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

'Ridiculously smooth': James Webb telescope spies unusual pancake-like disk around nearby star Vega — and scientists can't explain it

The nearby bright star Vega is surrounded by a surprisingly smooth, 100 billion-mile-wide disk of cosmic dust, confirming that it is not surrounded by any exoplanets, JWST images reveal. And scientists cannot explain its lack of alien worlds.

www.livescience.com

 

[Tom McAndrew]

James Webb Space Telescope finds galaxies pointing toward a dark matter alternative

"The bottom line is, 'I told you so.'"

www.space.com

 

[PrtLng Lion]

James Webb Space Telescope finds galaxies pointing toward a dark matter alternative

"The bottom line is, 'I told you so.'"

www.space.com

It's fascinating that, despite how it's taught in academia, we still don't know much about the big bang, or if it actually happened. An actual detailed explanation of gravity still eludes us.

 

[Zenophile]

This is JWT adjacent news. But as many of you either know or perhaps have long suspected, I really enjoy posting about Uranus.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

James Webb Space Telescope smashes its own record to find the earliest galaxies that ever existed

The James Webb Space Telescope has spotted five galaxy candidates dating to just 200 million years after the Big Bang, making them the earliest ever detected. And there could be many more.

www.livescience.com

 

[Zenophile]

A nearly inconceivable achievement.

 

[LionJim]

A nearly inconceivable achievement.

I’m currently reading “The First Three Minutes,” by Steven Weinberg, Nobel Prize for Physics 1979, and his description of the sheer brilliance of astrophysicists is really something.

Yes, it’s the first three minutes after the Big Bang.

 

[LionJim]

I’m currently reading “The First Three Minutes,” by Steven Weinberg, Nobel Prize for Physics 1979, and his description of the sheer brilliance of astrophysicists is really something.

Yes, it’s the first three minutes after the Big Bang.

It’s a good book but Simon Singh’s “The Big Bang” is the one you want.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

'Like nothing we've seen before': James Webb telescope spies a mysterious asteroid-comet hybrid lurking past Jupiter

The James Webb telescope has focused its attention on an oddball space rock lurking between Jupiter and Neptune. The unusual "centaur," named 2060 Chiron, has features of both comets and asteroids.

www.livescience.com

 

[Tom McAndrew]

3 Years After JWST's Launch, Here's What It Has Taught Us About The Universe

On this day three years ago, we witnessed the nail-biting launch of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the largest and most powerful telescope humans have ever sent into space.

www.sciencealert.com

 

[dcf4psu]

3 Years After JWST's Launch, Here's What It Has Taught Us About The Universe

On this day three years ago, we witnessed the nail-biting launch of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the largest and most powerful telescope humans have ever sent into space.

www.sciencealert.com

Understatement of all understatements: This suggests there were processes at play in the early Universe we don't yet fully understand.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

James Webb Space Telescope spots record-breaking collection of stars in far-flung galaxy

"I never dreamed of Webb seeing them in such large numbers."

www.space.com

 

[Tom McAndrew]

https://www.npr.org/2025/01/14/nx-s1-5258907/james-webb-space-telescopes-little-red-dots-come-into-focus

 

[VicVaselino]

https://www.npr.org/2025/01/14/nx-s1-5258907/james-webb-space-telescopes-little-red-dots-come-into-focus

Easily explained Tom. They are simply pimples on the skin of the teenage universe. You' re welcome.

 

[Wow]

This is JWT adjacent news. But as many of you either know or perhaps have long suspected, I really enjoy posting about Uranus.

 

[LionJim]

View attachment 744832

Is this an old joke? Thought it was hysterical.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

Webb telescope just solved the 'universe-breaking problem'

"Contrary to Headlines, Cosmology Isn’t Broken."

mashable.com

 

[Woodpecker]

Webb telescope just solved the 'universe-breaking problem'

"Contrary to Headlines, Cosmology Isn’t Broken."

mashable.com

"the light you're seeing from the red objects below is generated by the black holes at the center of these early galaxies."
Can somebody please explain black holes to me? I thought that they we so massive that their gravitational pull would not allow light to escape. The above statement from the article seems to contradict that.

 

[flash86]

"the light you're seeing from the red objects below is generated by the black holes at the center of these early galaxies."
Can somebody please explain black holes to me? I thought that they we so massive that their gravitational pull would not allow light to escape. The above statement from the article seems to contradict that.

Material spinning around the black hole at dramatic speeds - but not dropping in as it doesn’t cross the event horizon -generates the light.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

James Webb Spots Mysterious Object Crossing Space Between Stars

NASA's groundbreaking James Webb Space Telescope has spotted a mysterious object that's freely floating through interstellar space.

futurism.com

James Webb Space Telescope dives into the atmosphere of a mystery rogue planet or failed star

"Planetary-mass objects don't fit neatly into existing categories of stars or planets."

www.space.com

 

[Tom McAndrew]

Webb telescope just snapped direct image of worlds many light-years away

What's out there?

mashable.com

 

[Tom McAndrew]

https://scitechdaily.com/cosmic-breakthrough-as-webb-detects-carbon-dioxide-on-young-alien-planets/

 

[Tom McAndrew]

'Cosmic tornado' swirls in breathtaking new James Webb Space Telescope image

A striking new image from JWST captures a cosmic event at just the right time.

www.space.com

https://scitechdaily.com/webb-telescope-reveals-hidden-galaxy-behind-cosmic-tornado/

 

[Tom McAndrew]

James Webb telescope takes emergency look at 'city-killer' asteroid 2024 YR4 ahead of close encounter in 2032

The James Webb Space Telescope has taken its first look at the near-Earth asteroid 2024 YR4 before a perilous close approach in 2032. The telescope confirmed Earth is safe, but there is a 3.8% chance that our moon may be in trouble.

www.livescience.com

 

[Tom McAndrew]

Scientists hail ‘strongest evidence’ so far for life beyond our solar system

Astrophysics team say observation of chemical compounds may be ‘tipping point’ in search for extraterrestrial life

www.theguardian.com

 

[SleepyLion]

Not JW satellite related, but has anyone ever seen a "Starlink Satellite Train"?
We were driving last night and my wife noticed it.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

JWST peers through a cosmic lens in 'deepest gaze' to date | Space photo of the day for May 27, 2025

At first glance, this is a large galaxy cluster. Take another look, though, and the warped light from older, distant galaxies comes into view.

www.space.com

 

[Tom McAndrew]

'Cosmic miracle!' James Webb Space Telescope discovers the earliest galaxy ever seen

"This is the most distant object known to humanity."

www.space.com

 

[WestSideLion]

'Cosmic miracle!' James Webb Space Telescope discovers the earliest galaxy ever seen

"This is the most distant object known to humanity."

www.space.com

As these earlier galaxies get discovered, it adds further questions into our theory for how the universe formed.

The math is shaky on a fully formed galaxy just 280 million years after the Big Bang. Something has to give here.

I am in the camp that Webb will force us to blow up many of our long-held assumptions about the universe. That’s good.

 

[Zenophile]

 

[uh-Clem]

Wife, now passed away, was the General Counsel for the Giant Magellan Telescope being built in Chile. It will dwarf all of the earth bound telescopes and has been years in development
.

GMT

 

[Tom McAndrew]

https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/webb-space-telescope-spies-baby-planetary-system/

Astronomers spot a new solar system's birth for the first time

Researchers have witnessed the earliest moments to date of planets beginning to form around a star beyond the sun.

www.futurity.org

 

[Tom McAndrew]

interesting:

Cosmic Shock as Webb Spots 'Sleeping Beauty' Galaxies and Astrophysicist Admits “This Breaks Every Rule We Knew” - Rude Baguette

IN A NUTSHELL 🌌 James Webb Space Telescope discovers dormant galaxies in the early universe, challenging existing models of galactic evolution. 🔥 The presence of supermassive black holes and interactions with larger galaxies can deplete cold gas, halting star formation. 💨 Stellar feedback...

www.rudebaguette.com

 

[Tom McAndrew]

https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news/webb-mom-z14