The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the most powerful space telescope ever built, is created headlines with his unprecedented observations of the cosmos.
It recently set its sights on a gamma ray burst (GRB), the brightest explosion ever observed by humanity, which has been nicknamed the BOOT (Brightest Of All Time).
This extraordinary event was first observed on October 9, 2022, and occurred 2.4 billion light-years away in the constellation Sagitta.
The BOOT is believed to have been caused by a colossal supernova following the collapse of a massive star. These types of cosmic explosions are thought to be a source of heavy elements such as platinum and gold.
However, the JWST observations have introduced a new layer of mystery; When researchers expected to find evidence of these heavy elements, none were discovered. This finding challenges existing theories about the formation of heavy elements in the universe.
The capabilities of the JWST far exceed those of its predecessor, the Hubble Space Telescope. Equipped with a mirror with a diameter of 6.5 meters, the JWST can detect objects in the near-infrared spectrum, allowing it to see celestial objects that were previously too faint or too far away.
His observations not only provide clearer images of known astronomical features, but also reveal new, unexplained phenomena.
One such observation includes detailed images of the Orion Nebula, providing insight into the chaotic interactions between young stars and their surrounding gas clouds. These images show the complex structures of the nebula and the dynamic processes within them, such as the formation of new stars and planetary systems.
The telescope’s ability to capture such high-energy events opens up new possibilities for studying the early universe and the formation of the first stars and galaxies.
