An Insiders View of the JWST First Observations

Transcript

1. An Insiders View of the JWST First Observations Karl D. Gordon Astronomer STScI, Baltimore, MD Salford Astronomical Society 21 Apr 2023 “Have Dust – Will Study” kgordon@stsci.edu @karllark@astrodon.social karllark@github
2. First Observations 12 July 2022
3. All About the Telescope
4. A Feat of Engineering
5. Webb Is Big!
6. A ‘Honeycomb’ of Mirrors PRIMARY MIRROR PRIMARY MIRROR
7. Webb’s Science Instruments
8. Webb’s Powerful Hardware
9. Lift Off!
10. Webb’s Journey Begins
11. Relief
12. Where Is Webb’s Orbit?
13. Webb’s Unfolding Sequence
14. Observing Side Sun-Facing Side
15. Sunshield: Keeping Cool
16. How We ‘Talk’ to Webb
17. Commanding Webb from Baltimore, Maryland
18. Webb Is an International Collaboration
19. Why Study Infrared Light?
20. Visible Light Meerkats Freshwater crocodile
21. Infrared Light Meerkats Freshwater crocodile
22. Webb’s Specialization in Infrared Light
23. Webb Can Peer Through and Examine Dust Visible Light (ESO) Mid-Infrared Light (Spitzer) Near-Infrared Light (ESO)
24. First Observations Team • Small Team to design, process, and advise on 1st observations • Big press release showcasing Webb’s capabilities to all • Astronomers, Graphic Artists, Public Outreach, etc. • Hush-hush (NDA)
27. Many sighs of relief!
28. Webb’s unique fingerprint Diffraction Spikes
29. Data Reduction • Remove signatures of instrument/detectors – Subtract dark, flat field, etc, etc, etc • Based on extensive calibration observations – Before and after launch • JWST data reduction pipeline – Lead the team that decided the algorithms • Like 1st obs data - fully public, anyone can use • My role for 1st observations focused on MIRI Imaging
33. First Observations Live Broadcast • Asked to be the science expert for STScI portion • Attempted to duck • Failed • Resolved to not embarrass myself or STScI as best I could • Obtained an “official” polo
34. The Big Reveal: Webb’s First Observations
35. Webb’s First Deep Field SMACS 0723 Near-Infrared Light NIRCam Image
37. Background Subtraction MIRI F770W
39. Exoplanet ׀ WASP-96 b Transmission Spectrum NIRISS Single-Object Slitless Spectrum
40. Planetary Nebula ׀ Southern Ring Nebula Mid-Infrared Light MIRI Image Near-Infrared Light NIRCam Image
41. The Bet MIRI images taken first
42. The Bet Similar color as outer parts of nebula
43. The Bet Aligned with central blue star?
44. The Bet Aligned even better with red embedded red star
45. The Bet Karl: part of nebula Klaus: Edge-on galaxy
46. The Bet NIRCam images show more detail and different color than nebula
47. The Bet Definitely looks like an edge-on disk galaxy with a central bulge with a dust lane Alignment is a coincidence
48. Bet Paid
49. Interacting Galaxies Stephan’s Quintet Near- and Mid-Infrared Light Combined NIRCam and MIRI Image
50. Stephan’s Quintet MIRI Only
51. Stephan’s Quintet Flaming Motercycle View
52. Bonus for MIRI Imaging
53. Bonus for MIRI Imaging
54. Near-Infrared Light NIRCam Image Star-Forming Region I Carina Nebula
55. NIRCam + MIRI Image
56. NIRCam + MIRI Image
58. Video courtesy of Gary Gilbert (STScI)
59. Survived
60. Questions?
61. Orion • PDRs4All Early Release Science Program
62. Orion Bar