ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel Science Time Neil Tyson on JWST Finding Exoplanets #jwst #neildegrassetyson #universe
Have you ever wondered how scientists discover new planets and stars? Well, there’s a super cool telescope called the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) that helps us do just that! This telescope is like a giant eye in the sky, looking at the farthest parts of the universe. It can see galaxies being born, which is pretty amazing!
The JWST uses infrared light to see things that are really far away. Infrared light is a type of light that we can’t see with our eyes, but it can pass through gas clouds in space. These gas clouds are important because they are where stars are born. When the telescope looks through these clouds, it can see what’s happening inside them.
Inside these gas clouds, there are places called stellar nurseries. Just like a nursery is where babies are cared for, a stellar nursery is where new stars are formed. These nurseries are deep in space and are full of gas and dust. As the gas and dust come together, they form new stars. But that’s not all! Planets can also form around these new stars, just like how Earth orbits the Sun.
Thanks to telescopes like the JWST, scientists have discovered more than 5,000 exoplanets. Exoplanets are planets that orbit stars outside our solar system. The JWST is really good at finding these exoplanets and even studying their atmospheres. When an exoplanet passes in front of its star, the telescope can measure the chemicals in the planet’s atmosphere. This helps scientists learn more about what these distant worlds are like.
Studying exoplanets and stellar nurseries helps us understand how our own solar system might have formed. It also gives us clues about whether there might be life on other planets. The JWST is a powerful tool that helps us explore the universe and learn more about the amazing things happening out there.
So next time you look up at the night sky, remember that there’s a lot more going on than meets the eye. Thanks to the JWST, we’re discovering new worlds and learning more about the universe every day!
Gather materials like cotton balls, glitter, and colored paper to create a 3D model of a stellar nursery. Use the cotton balls to represent gas clouds and the glitter to symbolize stars forming. Explain how stars and planets are born in these nurseries.
Use a simple infrared camera or app to explore how infrared light works. Try looking at different objects and discuss how the JWST uses infrared light to see through space dust and gas clouds. Share your findings with the class.
Participate in a simulation where you act as astronomers using data to discover exoplanets. Analyze light curves and identify when a planet passes in front of its star. Discuss how this method helps scientists find new worlds.
Imagine and design your own exoplanet. Consider its atmosphere, surface conditions, and potential for life. Create a poster or digital presentation to showcase your planet and explain how the JWST might study it.
On a clear night, observe the sky and identify different stars and constellations. Use a star map or app to help you. Discuss how telescopes like the JWST help us learn more about these celestial objects.
Many people don’t realize that this telescope looks at the edge of the universe, finding galaxies being born. Because it’s infrared, it can peer through nearby gas clouds. Stars are made of gas, which comes from these gas clouds. When you look closely, you can see the stellar nursery that exists within. This gas cloud is deep within space and is forming brand new stars. It’s a stellar nursery that is not only forming stars but also planets in orbit around them. We now have more than 5,000 exoplanets in the catalog, and this telescope, among its many abilities, will be able to measure the chemistry of the atmosphere of exoplanets that pass in front of their host star.
Telescope – A device used to observe distant objects by collecting and magnifying light. – Example sentence: The astronomer used a telescope to study the surface of the moon.
Exoplanets – Planets that orbit a star outside our solar system. – Example sentence: Scientists have discovered many exoplanets that might have conditions suitable for life.
Stars – Massive, luminous spheres of plasma held together by gravity, often visible in the night sky. – Example sentence: The stars twinkled brightly in the clear night sky, forming beautiful constellations.
Galaxies – Large systems of stars, gas, dust, and dark matter bound together by gravity. – Example sentence: The Milky Way and Andromeda are two of the billions of galaxies in the universe.
Infrared – A type of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths longer than visible light, often used to detect heat. – Example sentence: Infrared telescopes can see through dust clouds in space to reveal hidden stars and planets.
Space – The vast, seemingly infinite expanse that exists beyond Earth’s atmosphere, where stars and planets are found. – Example sentence: Astronauts travel to space to conduct experiments and explore the unknown.
Atmosphere – The layer of gases surrounding a planet, protecting it from harmful space radiation. – Example sentence: Earth’s atmosphere is essential for life, providing air to breathe and shielding us from the sun’s rays.
Solar – Relating to or derived from the sun. – Example sentence: Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity to power homes and devices.
Nurseries – Regions in space where new stars are born from clouds of gas and dust. – Example sentence: The Orion Nebula is one of the most famous stellar nurseries, where new stars are forming.
Universe – The totality of all space, time, matter, and energy that exists. – Example sentence: The universe is vast and mysterious, with countless stars and galaxies waiting to be explored.
