Hubble's Successor, the James Webb Telescope

The Hubble Telescope has changed the way scientists think about astronomy. This time his successor is 'The James Web Space Telescope'. The 10 billion worth telescope could be operational next year

Hubble is located at an altitude of five hundred and fifty kilometers above the earth's surface And James Webb will be placed 1.5 million kilometers away from the earth!

One of the most complex scientific instruments ever made is the James Webb Telescope. It is also one of the most expensive as it costs ten billion dollars James Webb will work with infrared light. And Hubble is mainly working on the 'visible light spectrum'.

The Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Heidelberg is involved in the development of the James Webb Telescope. Astrophysicist Klaus Yeager thinks there are several important reasons to work with infrared light. "The place where they are formed, the light covered in dust - these conditions require infrared light," he said. Due to the large wavelength, infrared can penetrate into the cloud Another reason is that the size of the universe is increasing, the color of light in distant galaxies is shifting towards red - which can be seen with an infrared telescope. "

Like Hubble, James Webb will advance astronomy However, special design is being followed to keep James Webb cool as it will work with infrared. 

Attempts are being made to keep the heat away with a sunshade equivalent to a tennis court But a rocket will not hold such a big shed So a complex infrastructure is being created, which will only fit in space Very complex challenge 6 "Everything in space has to be just right," said Klaus Yeager So you have to be very careful Hopefully, work can start by 2021. "

Due to complications, work has to be stopped from time to time Hubble has a mirror James Webb will have 18. These will need to be paired with each other in space. Then its size will be three times that of Hubble's mirror Everything has to be fine. Because, like Hubble, there will be no chance of repair later ". There was an initial problem with the sending of the Hubble Telescope into orbit, which was later repaired," Yager said. But in the case of James Webb, it will not be possible Because it will be sent so far from the earth that there will be no way to repair it. "

It will be placed 1.5 million kilometers away from the earth. There would be more possible to protect James Webb from the sun's radiation than on Earth's orbit. As a result, it will be a great place to practice infrared astronomy

Until then, the Hubble Telescope will be the most important instrument in the practice of astronomy "30 years is really long time," says Ralph-Jrgen Detmar, an astrophysicist at Ruer University. In the beginning, there were not so many expectations It's been a good time so far. But now it is sad to think that they are trying to stop Hubble. But Hubble's successor is the future It is needed for more science. We did almost everything we planned to do with Hubble. "

Of course, Hubble may still be waiting for some more surprises. Because if all goes well, Hubble 6 will be able to work for a few more years

In the last 30 years, Hubble has shown us something that has never been seen before. What else will show in front, who knows!

Source: DW