Have you ever dreamed of having a live view of the farthest reaches of the Universe? Well, get ready, because I’ve found a website that will take you light-years away, all from the comfort of your chair.
Welcome to Space Telescope Live, a platform that lets you follow in real-time what the James Webb and Hubble Space Telescopes are observing in the vastness of space.
This site provides live data on what each telescope is currently observing, including the current targets, how the data is being collected, the start and end times of the observation, who is conducting the research, and most importantly, why these observations are being made. The site even provides detailed information about the observed target, such as its position in the sky, its distance from Earth, and the scientific objectives of the observation.
It’s a goldmine for astronomy enthusiasts! For your information, the data comes directly from the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, which manages the scientific operations of both telescopes. So, we’re getting data straight from the source!
“But Mohamed, the James Webb mainly observes in infrared, while Hubble covers a broader spectrum, including visible light!” some of you nerds might say… Well spotted, my little padawans! Indeed, although both telescopes observe a wide range of electromagnetic radiation, the JWST is optimized for infrared, allowing it to uncover invisible aspects of the Universe. But on the site, it’s just as good as what you can see with Hubble, if not better in terms of quality.
Speaking of which, I wondered how we could access the ultimate grail: using the James Webb ourselves! So, I dug around the depths of the internet, and sorry to burst your bubble, but it’s not anytime soon that we’ll be able to point the JWST at our favorite star since its use is reserved for scientists and selected research projects.
Well, now that I’ve whetted your appetite, here’s the website address: https://spacetelescopelive.org/, and I’ll let you explore it all. And don’t forget, as they say: “Per aspera ad astra,” “Through hardships to the stars.”
Though in our case, it’s more like: “With a click of the mouse to the edges of the cosmos!”
How to use Space Telescope Live
Accessing the Tool
- Visit the official Space Telescope Live website.
- The landing page will show you what Hubble and Webb are currently observing.
Exploring Observations
Current Observations
- Click on either the Hubble or Webb section to view details about the current observation.
- You’ll see information such as:
- Target name and category
- Research program title
- Observation status
- Science topics
- Science instrument being used
Sky Map
- A zoomable sky map centered on the target is provided.
- The map uses imagery from ground-based telescopes (not Hubble or Webb) to provide context.
- You can view:
- Field of View (FoV) in angular degrees or arcminutes
- Coordinates (Right Ascension and Declination)
Additional Features
- Use the “Observation Details +” button to view more information about each observation’s science focus areas and instruments used.
- Navigate through past and upcoming observations.
- Explore the entire catalog of observations, dating back to Hubble’s first operations in May 1990 and Webb’s commissioning targets in January 2022.
Understanding the Data
- Target names are formal catalog names from research proposals.
- Research program titles are pulled directly from original proposals.
- Observation status is based on current date/time and scheduled start/end times.
- Science topics provide specifics about the target and purpose of the investigation.
Additional Resources
- Check the User Guide for detailed explanations of the information displayed.
- The tool is designed to work on both desktop and mobile devices.
- You can access Space Telescope Live through NASA’s official Hubble and Webb websites.
By using Space Telescope Live, you can gain insider access to the operations of these groundbreaking space telescopes and learn about the cutting-edge astronomical research being conducted in real-time.
See you soon on Tech To Geek.
