The James Webb Space Telescope has provided the deepest infrared image of the Universe yet known, and the full set of photographs will be released later today.
All the information related to the first images captured by the James Webb telescope will be released as of 2:30 p.m. (GMT) today, as agreed by the three space agencies involved in this technological and scientific project: NASA , the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Canadian Space Agency.
During a special information event held yesterday at the White House, the president of the United States, Joe Biden, and NASA officials, released the first image captured by the space telescope.
This is the deepest and clearest infrared image of the distant Universe that has been captured so far, the ESA stressed in a note released this morning, and specified that the photograph – which focuses on a point in the sky from the perspective someone on the ground – reveals thousands of galaxies, including the faintest objects ever observed.
“Only through teamwork, dedication and the human drive to push boundaries and explore have we reached this historic moment of seeing the deepest picture of the early Universe to date,” said ESA Director General Josef Ashbacher.
Known as the “first deep field” from the James Webb Telescope, this image shows the galaxy cluster SMACS 0723, which according to ESA data is “bursting with detail”.
“We are ready to start our journey to the earliest days of our Universe with this world-class observatory,” said ESA Head of Science Günther Hasinger.
The one released yesterday at the White House is one of the first color images from the telescope, and the full set is scheduled to be released starting at 2:30 p.m. GMT.
The James Webb Telescope is the largest and most powerful telescope ever launched into space, and is part of an international collaboration agreement, in which ESA has provided the launch service using the Ariane 5 launch vehicle.
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