James Webb Space Telescope Reaches Its Observation Point, Where It Will Shine Light to the Secrets of the Universe
The James Webb Space Telescope which was launched on December 25, 2021, has reached point L2, 1.5 million kilometers far from Earth. The Telescope will start scientific studies within 6 months.
James Webb, the most advanced space telescope developed by the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the European Space Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency in partnership with 15 countries, was finally launched into space on December 25 after years of delay. The telescope, which aims to capture the first lights of the universe and is expected to reveal details about the universe that we have not seen before, has finally reached its target point today.
The James Webb Space Telescope has reached the Sun-Earth Lagrange point called ‘L2’. The telescope, which has been traveling through space for about a month. By starting today it will make its preparations to observe the universe at this point. The team behind the telescope will wait for the instruments on the telescope to cool down before starting observations. The first image from the James Webb Space Telescope might be coming within 5 months.
The team behind James Webb will spend six months making sure the instruments on the telescope are working properly before starting the scientific work. The telescope will complete its orbit around the Sun every 180 days.
What is the L2 point where Webb is placed?
At the location called the Lagrangian point reached by the telescope, the gravitational force created by the Sun and the Earth neutralizes each other. The telescope was placed at the point called ‘L2’ from 5 Lagrangian points between the Sun and the Earth. To date, some satellites have also been placed at this L2 point. This point is located about 1.5 million kilometers far from Earth.
