The James Webb Space Telescope is not only capable of analyzing distant galaxies but can also observe planets within our Solar System, located very close to Earth.
After releasing a series of high-quality color images of the distant universe, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has shared some new images of Jupiter captured by James Webb. According to Space, these new images showcase the telescope’s ability to study planets near Earth, highlighting its $10 billion investment.
The images were taken using various color filters from the Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam). In the images, the thick clouds surrounding Jupiter are clearly visible, along with the Great Red Spot (a massive storm larger than Earth that has existed for hundreds of years and shows no signs of stopping) and the rings around the storm.
Image of Jupiter and its moon Europa captured by the 2.12-micron filter of NIRCam. Photo: NASA.
Some of Jupiter’s moons, including Europa, also appear in the images. This moon is believed to contain many essential components for life, including water, energy, and carbon materials. Europa’s ocean lies beneath a thick layer of ice measuring 15-25 km, with depths ranging from 60-150 km. It is considered one of the potential objects in the Solar System that could support life.
The images of Jupiter were captured while engineers were calibrating James Webb after its launch into orbit at the end of 2021. This phase has been completed, and NASA’s $10 billion telescope officially began its scientific missions on July 12.
The primary mission of James Webb is to provide detailed images that enhance our understanding of the origins of the universe, uncover clues about human formation, existence, and extraterrestrial life. With its powerful tools, scientists also use James Webb to analyze celestial objects and phenomena, including the group of planets in the Solar System like Jupiter.
“Combining the previously released images of the distant universe, the Jupiter images demonstrate the full range of detail that James Webb can observe, from faint galaxies far away to planets within the Solar System that can be seen with the naked eye from our backyards,” shared Bryan Holler, a scientist at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore.
Other images of Jupiter captured by the 2.12-micron (left) and 3.23-micron filters. Photo: NASA.
“It’s hard to believe we can see everything so clearly and brightly. It’s exciting to think about the ability to observe these types of objects in the Solar System,” said Dr. Stefanie Milam, a member of NASA’s James Webb Planetary Science project.
Not only focusing on Jupiter, the James Webb research team also analyzed data from several asteroids during the calibration phase to assess its ability to observe fast-moving targets. According to engineers, the $10 billion telescope has successfully passed all testing phases.
