Martin Wood Complex, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PU
The James Webb Space Telescope: creating a new era in Astronomy
Dr Matt Mountain, President of AURA and Telescope Scientist for JWST, will present the 24th Hintze Lecture, entitled "The James Webb Space Telescope: creating a new era in Astronomy"
Abstract:
On Christmas day 2021 a new era of astronomy was ushered in with the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). The observatory, able to see farther back in time, farther out in space, and deeper into dusty clouds where stars are being born than previous space telescopes, is performing beautifully. This impressive accomplishment is thanks to an international effort of 20,000 technicians, engineers, scientists, and computer scientists who built, tested, launched, commissioned, and are now using JWST.
However, the journey into this new era was not easy! Our speaker will describe what it took to successfully build and launch JWST. He will describe the nail biting six weeks of not knowing whether the telescope would work, culminating in the stunning first images, intriguing results, and new discoveries ahead. This story, our speaker will explain, is just beginning. It is the foundation for a new era of exploration of the Universe and understanding of our place within this vast Cosmos.
This event is free both online and in person. If you would like to attend online, registration is required.
Registration is not required if you would like to attend in person.