Unit 2 Activity - Great Space Observatories
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Polk State College *
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Course
1002
Subject
Astronomy
Date
Dec 6, 2023
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3
Uploaded by BrigadierFlyMaster929
NASA’s Great Space Observatories
NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope launched in 1990 on a five-year mission to explore the Universe. The
success of the telescope was unparalleled and it changed our understanding of astronomy immeasurably.
Hubble has exceeded its design lifetime by six times and is now (as of November, 2021) in its thirty-first
year of operation.
The Hubble is in trouble. It was designed to be repaired in space, but since the end of the Space Shuttle
program, NASA has not been able to visit the spacecraft. In the last several months, crucial systems have
begun to fail. The end of the Hubble Era is near.
Fortunately, the James Webb space telescope is nearing its launch date, planned for December, 2021.
Designed to outperform the Hubble with new technologies, the JWST will no doubt usher in a new great
era of exploration and understanding.
HubbleCast41
Watch the Hubble History as told by Hubble Scientists (HubbleCast #41) at
http://www.spacetelescope.org/videos/hubblecast41a/
As you watch the
video, answer the following questions:
1.
Galileo lived in which Italian city?
a)
Galileo lived in Venice, Italy.
2.
In what year was the Hubble launched?
a)
The Hubble was launched in 1990.
3.
Who was the first project scientist for the Hubble project?
a)
The first project scientist for the Hubble project was Bob O’Dell in 1972.
4.
Why was the aperture size changed from 3 to 2.4 meters?
a)
The aperture size was changed due to the need to save money.
5.
What problem did Hubble have with its optical system?
a)
The Hubble’s optical system had a flaw in the mirror (spherical aberration), making the
images blurry.
6.
Hubble is the first space telescope to have what quality?
a)
Hubble is the first space telescope that was to be serviced in space.
7.
What is rule number one for shuttle astronauts visiting the Hubble?
a)
Rule number one for shuttle astronauts visiting the Hubble was to not break the telescope.
8.
What is the name of the telescope that is planned to replace Hubble?
a)
The telescope that was planned to replace Hubble was the James Web Telescope.
9.
When was this video made?
a)
This video was made in October 2010.
HubbleCast42
Now watch the “Hubble’s Greatest Hits” (Hubblecast42) broadcast at
http://www.spacetelescope.org/videos/hubblecast42a/
And answer these questions:
10. What is the first “favorite discovery” of the Hubble mentioned?
a)
The first “favorite discovery” of the Hubble was the measure of the atmosphere of a planet
around a nearby star. Made by the STIS instrument.
11. What was Dr. O’Dell’s favorite Hubble discovery?
a)
Dr. O’Dell’s favorite Hubble discovery was seeing protoplanetary discs around many of the
stars.
12. What is special about the galaxy NGC4261?
a)
There was a very small disc of gas and dust at the center and using the velocity of said gas
could measure the mass of the central supermassive black hole.
13. What affectionate name does Dr. Leckrona give to galaxies that are seen at a time only 700 or 800
million years after the formation of the universe?
a)
Dr. Leckrona called the galaxies “toddler galaxies”, that were seen only 700 to 800 million
years after the formation of the universe.
14. What are Dr. J’s favorite Hubble moments?
a)
Dr. J’s favorite Hubble moments were the images of planet Fomalhaut b, images of the
so-called Bullet Cluster, and the measuring of the Hubble constant.
The James Webb Space Telescope
Use the video at
https://youtu.be/tnbSIbsF4t4
to answer the following questions. Before starting the
video, use the Wikipedia to answer question #1.
1.
Who was James E. Webb?
a)
James Edwin Webb was the second administrator of the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration, under the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958. He also
helped work on the Appolo project.
2.
What are the four primary instruments of the JWST (you will have to watch the whole video and
come back to this one at the end).
a)
NIRCAM, NIRSPEC, Fine Guidance Sensor, and MIRI
3.
How much lighter is the JWST primary mirror compared to the Hubble’s? is it larger or smalller?
a)
The JWST primary mirror is larger than the Hubble’s while being 249 lbs lighter.
4.
What does a coronagraph do?
a)
It allows researchers to see more faintly lit stars and galaxies, and it can even take
pictures of exoplanets.
5.
Why must the telescope be cooled to a low temperature?
a)
The telescope has to be cooled to a low temperature or else it will start capturing its
own heat.
6.
What two systems on the telescope are used to keep it cool?
a)
The two systems used to keep the telescope cool are the cryocooler and the sunshield.
7.
Which instrument will be able to detect absorption lines?
a)
NIRSPEC will be able to detect absorption lines.
8.
What materials are used to make the sunshields?
a)
The sunshields are made of Kapton, with the layers coated in aluminum and the first
two layers having a coat of silicon.
9.
How far from Earth will the telescope orbit? What special name is given to this place?
a)
The telescope has to orbit 1.5 million km away from Earth, traveling to Laraji Point 2.
10. What rocket will launch the JWST into space? Why was this launch vehicle chosen?
a)
The rocket that will launch JWST into space is called Ariane 5 as it is the most reliable
rocket since the telescope can fold into the rocket.
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