Learn how astronomical community is preparing for the world’s most powerful telescope.
Watch the webcast on Air and Space Live or attend in person:
7:30 pm Meet the lecturer
8:00 pm Lecture begins
9:00 pm Stargazing in the Phoebe Waterman Haas Public Observatory, weather permitting
NASA’s next astrophysics flagship mission, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), will soon be ready to explore the universe, but will scientists be ready to take full advantage of this incredibly powerful observatory? What will it take to be able to peer back in time to an era when the first stars and galaxies came into existence or peer with unprecedented vision at planets around stars other than our Sun? Preparations for the first observations with the telescope are underway, and astronomers are eagerly anticipating the opportunity to propose science programs that will lead to a host of new discoveries.
In this lecture, Ken Sembach, director of the Space Telescope Science Institute, will highlight some of the exciting science to be conducted in JWST’s first year of observations. He will also provide a behind-the-scenes look at the complex science and flight operations activities needed to prepare the telescope and the astronomical community for an amazing journey across time and space.
This lecture is free but tickets are required. Please reserve your tickets using the form below. Please note: all new ticket requests for this lecture will be for overflow seating in the Museum's Albert Einstein Planetarium.
About the Exploring Space Lecture Series
Meet Hubble's Successor: The James Webb Space Telescope
When the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) launches in 2019, it will be the premier space observatory of the next decade, serving thousands of astronomers worldwide. It will study every phase in the history of our universe, ranging from the first luminous glows after the Big Bang to the formation of galaxies, stars, and planetary systems capable of supporting life. This year’s Exploring Space lectures explore the final preparations of launching and commissioning the JWST and capture the excitement among leading participants eagerly anticipating "first light." Each speaker will lend their personal insight and perspective to help us appreciate the significance of the JWST in its fullest scientific, technical, and historical context. Get tickets to all the Exploring Space lectures.
The Exploring Space Lecture Series is made possible by the generous support of Aerojet Rocketdyne and United Launch Alliance.