For years, scientists have been trying to explore outside of our beloved planet, to seek out new possibilities or other unknown life forms that exist. People were curious about what our stars and galaxies looked like. As we continue to further advance our technology, we are getting closer and closer into achieving our goals of exploration. On July 7, 2022, the white house released the first ever coloured picture of the universe using the James Webb Space Telescope. That picture was also known as the highest-resolution infrared image that was ever taken of the universe (Walsh, 2022). The name of the area where the photo was taken, was called SMACS 0723 cluster, which existed over 4.6 billion years ago. For now, the James Webb Telescope is the largest and most advanced telescope made by NASA (Walsh, 2022).
Now you might be wondering, how did scientists take a picture of the galaxy? What are the basic functions of a telescope that are required to capture this extraordinary image? Powerful telescopes like Hubble, Chandra, and James Webb contain an infrared vision that allows astronomers to bypass dust and allow scientists to turn the infrared light into the images we see (Morrow, 2016). This allowed astronomers to explore new territories we are unable to reach due to limited levels of technology available. It is important as it allows scientists to test theories and provide insights towards new discoveries. For instance, pictures of a black hole enables scientists to calculate its mass by observing nearby areas, which provide opportunities to make accurate assumptions. Besides that, it also gave a deeper understanding of the structure of the black hole and its behavior (Lutz, 2019).
Astrophotography is complex and involves using specialized cameras, like a DSLR camera. Of course, before you take a picture of the milky way, you need to know where to find one. It is recommended that you go to a place free of light pollution between May and August for the best results (Little, 2021). Free apps like Sky Guide and Sky View Lite can be used to help with locating the milky way. Nowadays, astrophotography is becoming increasingly popular due to the influence of new astronomy pictures released by NASA and the lockdown experienced in 2020. The creation of new and sophisticated camera models allow professionals or amateurs to capture breathtaking images of the universe. This particular hobby also allows room for creativity and creates personalized images to record special events or memories.
To summarize, we see many extraordinary things throughout our lives, both within and outside of our home planet. Photos and images serve as evidence that these things existed once and were never lost to time. Besides, people should be encouraged to explore their creative side that helps inspire curiosity of the outside world. You never know what you will find on your next discovery!
Written by: Ya Pey Hew
June 11, 2022
