The Webb Telescope

The Webb just reached the 7th and final phase before going into full operational status.
https://webb.nasa.gov/content/webbLaunch/whereIsWebb.html

Still roughly 3 months before it is fully aligned and ready to go.

@Liljo
I think there will be SOME science worked out before then because some tasks don't use X instruments but Y instruments maybe already online.

Seems like Webby has been forgotten, but not by me. I took a peek at him and he seems to be nice and cool, and almost ready for full operation.

My only concern is this pesky alien creature that wants to make a cozy nest right on top of the mirror assembly.

@bunnyknight
The latest report is that the temperature goal has been reached and now they are fine tuning the mirrors and instrumentation.

@sonhouse said
@bunnyknight
The latest report is that the temperature goal has been reached and now they are fine tuning the mirrors and instrumentation.

according to https://webb.nasa.gov/content/webbLaunch/whereIsWebb.html

The now depoly the instrumentation, so maybe two to four weeks.

@ponderable said
according to https://webb.nasa.gov/content/webbLaunch/whereIsWebb.html

The now depoly the instrumentation, so maybe two to four weeks.

@jimm619
Hopefully Elon Musk will be able to keep up with Webby by building actual hardware to get us to all those distant planets and stars, and so far he seems to be our best chance of pulling this off. And if we don't strive to reach those distant places, then what's the point of just staring at them --- it would be like staring at a huge table full of food without ever tasting it.

@bunnyknight said
@jimm619
Hopefully Elon Musk will be able to keep up with Webby by building actual hardware to get us to all those distant planets and stars, and so far he seems to be our best chance of pulling this off. And if we don't strive to reach those distant places, then what's the point of just staring at them --- it would be like staring at a huge table full of food without ever tasting it.

Check out the image sharpness check the Webb is now performing. It is so close to ready!

This is pointed towards a single star like earlier, but CHECK OUT THE BACKGROUND NOW! ! !

https://webb.nasa.gov/content/webbLaunch/whereIsWebb.html

@liljo said
Check out the image sharpness check the Webb is now performing. It is so close to ready!

This is pointed towards a single star like earlier, but CHECK OUT THE BACKGROUND NOW! ! !

https://webb.nasa.gov/content/webbLaunch/whereIsWebb.html

The latest from the Where is Webb site:

Current State/Step :
Instrument Commissioning
Nominal Event Time: Starts - Launch + ~4 Months

Status: ONGOING

With mirror alignment completed, the Webb team will turn its attention to science instrument commissioning.

For each instrument, the Webb team will now conduct an extensive suite of calibrations and characterizations of the instruments using a variety of astronomical sources. We will measure the instruments’ throughput – how much of the light that enters the telescope reaches the detectors and is recorded. We will do an astrometric calibration for each instrument, measuring the small optical distortions in the instrument to map each pixel in the detector to the precise location on the sky that it will see. We will measure the sharpness of stellar images at each point in an instrument’s image to enable the optimal extraction of scientific information. We will demonstrate target acquisition for coronagraphy and spectroscopy, and test a few special types of observations, including targets within our Solar System, and time-series observations of exoplanet transits.

@Liljo
Low temp has been reached. Any word on the calibration routines? Can't wait for the full power to be used. They said it might even be able to tell if a planet has life on it I guess based on analysis of atmospheric gasses.

@sonhouse
I believe they are saying they are down to the finest of fine details now. They are already getting images to work with on the overall fine tuning of the Webb. We are about to get some incredible images!

Looks like everything is precisely on schedule, and there is quite a buzz of excitement with the folks of NASA.

The latest, from NASA:

NASA will hold a media teleconference at 11 a.m. EDT on Monday, May 9, to discuss progress toward preparing the James Webb Space Telescope for science operations. The agency will livestream audio of the teleconference on its website.

Webb will explore every phase of cosmic history – from within the solar system to the most distant observable galaxies in the early universe, and everything in between. Participants will discuss the recent completion of mirror alignment and preview what to expect for Webb’s final months of science instrument preparations.

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-to-discuss-webb-telescope-alignment-instrument-setup