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For UVA Astronomers, New Space Telescope Could Be a ‘Game-Changer’
When the James Webb Space Telescope launches in October, it will be the world’s premier space science observatory. Its combination of high-resolution and infrared-detecting instruments is expected to provide astronomers with a wealth of detailed data – not only on individual stars in the local universe, but also an unprecedented level of detail of what’s happening at the cores of other galaxies.
Among those eagerly awaiting the Webb telescope’s launch are a pair of University of Virginia astronomers leading and working on two of the 13 Early Release Science projects selected by NASA and its partners, the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency, to test its capabilities. Data from Aaron Evans’s and Nitya Kallivayalil’s projects, as well as from the other 11 Early Release Science programs, will be made available to other astronomers immediately, and archived for future research.
Art by Catherine Zhang.
A few million light years away, a black hole at the center of a galaxy spins at immense speeds, turning matter into light; on the screen in front of us, the scientist who figured that out made an edgy joke about how terrible adulthood is. We sat (virtually) in Professor Meg Urry’s office, listening intently as she tells stories about her career, her research, and her life. Hanging on the wall were three framed pictures, including a black and white portrait of who appears to be Isaac Newton. Seems fitting for one of the most acclaimed astrophysics experts in the world. Throughout our discussion, the conversation kept returning to the same thought––what is the driving force behind science? For Urry, it is about bringing different ideas and perspectives into conversation with one another. It is about diversity and representation––who is at the table, what they brought, and how they got there. Urry’s own journey is a case study into the sociology of s