A little closer to the stars (1/6)
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The astrophysicist, a great transmitter of science via social networks where he is followed by more than 200,000 people, welcomes the “revolution” represented by the James Webb telescope, launched in 2022, for astronomy.
A little closer to the stars 1/6
From the Crab Nebula to the edges of our Milky Way to the very first galaxies, renowned scientists tell for “Libération” a space discovery that amazed them and which continues to obsess them. An invitation to travel to take off from current affairs on earth during the holidays.
It is July 11, 2022. For a little over six months, after a journey of 1.5 million kilometers, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has been examining the universe. It is the largest telescope ever sent into space. By being placed above Earth's atmosphere, this immense light sensor promises to probe the cosmos like never before. Every day, since its launch in French Guiana, I have followed the technical exploits of this machine, piloted by colleagues in Baltimore (United States). The images obtained during the first technical tests are exciting. The telescope will produce extraordinary photographs. Tomorrow, the first scientific results will be presented. But last minute change: they will be presented in two parts, because Joe Biden, President of the United States, will reveal the first photo. This choice gives me mixed feelings. On the one hand, I am enthusiastic about the idea that the head of one of the most powerful states in the world is speaking about astronomy, and therefore raising awareness among a very wide audience. On the other hand, I tell myself that for the general public, as is often the case, this mission will be associated with NASA, the American space agency, whereas it is a joint mission with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). The contribution of
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