After six months of unfolding, instrument testing, and finally, data gathering, the James Webb Space Telescope mission released its first collection of full-color images and other data on July 12, 2022. This collection demonstrates that the telescope is working properly, and showcases what it can do—reveal a universe unlike anything we have seen before.
Before the First Images
Planet Earth and seven depictions of the Webb telescope changing over time sweep around the image from upper left to the right side, to the bottom left, surrounding the title text: Webb’s Unfolding Sequence. Third image label reads: Initial sun shield deployment. Next label reads: tensioning and separation of sun shield’s layers. Next label: secondary mirror support unfolds. Next label: two primary mirror lateral wings deploy. Last label: fully unfolded.
As the largest and most complex observatory ever launched into space, Webb went through an extended period of preparation before it could begin science work. Due to Webb’s unprecedented design and unique unfolding process post-launch, the pre-science commissioning process received lots of attention. Remarkable images gave the public a window into the world of Webb engineers and instrument scientists as they worked to align the 18 primary mirror segments, including the telescope’s social media-ready "selfie" images.
These evaluation images served as an exciting pre-show for Webb’s first full-color images and spectroscopic data, which showcase the telescope’s full capabilities for the first time, with the mirrors aligned and all instruments fully operational. The first images serve as a kickoff for Webb’s operational phase, previewing the science to come.
Creating Webb’s First Images
Deciding what Webb should look at first was a project many years in the making. The task was an international partnership between NASA, ESA (European Space Agency), the Canadian Space Agency, and the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI). Brainstorming began more than five years before Webb’s December 2021 launch. The goals: showcase Webb’s unprecedented capabilities and deliver a “wow” for both astronomers and the public, to kick off science operations and build excitement for the future.
Once Webb was launched and in space, each of its instruments had to be tested in several operating modes. These modes include standard imaging as well as spectroscopy and various masking techniques that allow the telescope to detect faint sources of light next to very bright ones. Once each of Webb’s four science instruments and seventeen modes was fully tested and given the green light by their science and engineering teams, the first images and other data were captured and delivered to the imaging team for processing. All raw data from telescopes go through processing so that the scientific features can be separated from visual static and effects from the hardware itself.
A multidisciplinary team of more than 25 people at STScI—including instrument scientists, imaging specialists, writers, and artists followed a carefully planned schedule for a month to produce the collection of first images and spectroscopic data—the detailed information that Webb can read in wavelengths of light.
What's Next?
Science! A portion of Webb’s observing time in its first five months is dedicated to the Early Release Science program, and that data is made available to the astronomy community immediately so that they can learn about Webb’s capabilities and how to make the best use of its instruments.
Astronomers who worked on developing Webb and its instruments are guaranteed time to use the observatory for science during its first three planned observation cycles. These Guaranteed Time Observation programs further explore and demonstrate Webb’s capabilities, covering a wide range of science topics, including “deep field” observations—the type of long looks at one patch of sky made famous by the Hubble Space Telescope.
Members of the general astronomy community applied and have been approved for time to use Webb during its first cycle of science observations, called the General Observer programs. These scientific studies mark the official beginning of Webb’s general science operations—the work it was designed to do. Astronomers will use Webb to observe the universe, analyze the data collected, and publish scientific papers on their discoveries.
Beyond what is already planned for Webb, there are the unexpected discoveries astronomers can’t anticipate. One example: In 1990 when the Hubble Space Telescope launched, dark energy was completely unknown. Now it is one of the most exciting areas of astrophysics. What will Webb discover?
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