Exploring the James Webb Space Telescope

The transcript discusses the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), its design, deployment, and capabilities. It highlights the telescope's ability to observe the universe's earliest galaxies and stars, its international collaboration, and its potential to discover new insights about exoplanets and life beyond Earth. The conversation also touches on the possibility of life in our solar system, particularly on Mars and Europa. Heidi Hammel shares her personal journey in astronomy and the unanswered questions that drive her curiosity.

What was one of the primary goals for building the James Webb Space Telescope?

• To study the first galaxies and stars

• To replace the Hubble Space Telescope

• To explore the surface of Mars

• To monitor Earth's climate

How does the size of JWST's mirror compare to that of Hubble's?

• JWST's mirror is smaller

• JWST's mirror is the same size

• JWST does not have a mirror

• JWST's mirror is larger

Why was the deployment of JWST considered a nerve-racking process?

• It was launched from a new type of rocket

• It had to unfold perfectly in space

• It was the first telescope to be launched

• It was launched during a solar storm

What analogy is used to describe the size of the first deep field image from JWST?

• A grain of rice

• A grain of sand

• A drop of water

• A speck of dust

What is the significance of the 'Cosmic Cliffs' image captured by JWST?

• It captures the surface of Mars

• It reveals regions where stars are being born

• It depicts a black hole

• It shows the first stars ever formed

What makes the TRAPPIST-1 system a point of interest for astronomers?

• It has the largest known star

• It has the most moons in the galaxy

• It contains several Earth-sized planets

• It is the closest star system to Earth

What is the primary focus when searching for habitable planets?

• Presence of water

• Presence of nitrogen

• Presence of oxygen

• Presence of carbon

What is one reason Europa is considered a candidate for hosting life?

• It has active volcanoes

• It is the largest moon of Jupiter

• It has a subsurface ocean

• It has a thick atmosphere

What unique feature does Triton have that makes it interesting to scientists?

• It is the smallest moon in the solar system

• It orbits Neptune in a retrograde direction

• It has the highest mountain in the solar system

• It is the hottest moon in the solar system

What is one of the unanswered questions in astronomy that JWST aims to address?

• The distance to the nearest black hole

• The number of planets in the Milky Way

• The exact age of the universe

• The formation of the first stars and galaxies