James Webb Space Telescope

Almost 40 years since the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) completed the first, full-sky survey, a succession of infrared space-born facilities (ISO, Spitzer and Herschel) have each pushed the frontiers, helping us to uncover the complex processes which govern the formation of stars and planets. The unique capabilities of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) now allow us to study the, otherwise inaccessible, processes governing the formation of stars and planets, to an unprecedented detail. As a space-based cryogenic 6.5m telescope, JWST represents a staggering improvement in sensitivity along with unprecedented spatial resolution across the near and mid-infrared. The first full … Read more »

We are organizing a scientific event during COSPAR 44, the 2022 assembly of the Committee for Space Research, to be held in Athens, Greece. Almost 40 years since the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) completed the first, full-sky survey, a succession of infrared space-born facilities (ISO, Spitzer and Herschel) have each pushed the frontiers, helping us to uncover the complex processes which govern the formation of stars and planets. The unique capabilities of the upcoming James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) will soon allow us to study the, otherwise inaccessible, energetic processes governing the formation of stars and planets, to an unprecedented … Read more »

The delivery of the first scientific data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) in mid 2022, after commissioning, will be the astronomical event of the year. JWST will provide unprecedented imaging and spectroscopic capabilities in the 0.6-28μm band, with a sensitivity that will be even orders of magnitude higher than current and past facilities in some spectral ranges. Undoubtedly, in the years to come, JWST will open a huge, new discovery space in most areas of astronomy and astrophysics. By the time of the EAS 2022 meeting, the commissioning of the telescope and of the instruments should be either … Read more »