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Space Is the Place: A Galaxy of Far Out Words: NASA’s Webb Delivers Deepest Infrared Image of Universe Yet

You didn't get that fancy new telescope because the price was too astronomical? Don't worry! We've compiled this stellar list of vocabulary related to NASA's Webb Telescope that will take you to the moon and back. Read the full article here.
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Full list of words from this list:

  1. telescope
    a magnifier of images of distant objects
    NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has delivered the deepest and sharpest infrared image of the distant universe so far.
  2. image
    a visual representation produced on a surface
    NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has delivered the deepest and sharpest infrared image of the distant universe so far.
  3. distant
    located far away spatially
    NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has delivered the deepest and sharpest infrared image of the distant universe so far.
  4. universe
    everything that exists anywhere
    NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has delivered the deepest and sharpest infrared image of the distant universe so far.
  5. galaxy
    a collection of star systems
    Webb’s First Deep Field is galaxy cluster SMACS 0723, and it is teeming with thousands of galaxies – including the faintest objects ever observed in the infrared.
  6. cluster
    a grouping of a number of similar things
    Webb’s First Deep Field is galaxy cluster SMACS 0723, and it is teeming with thousands of galaxies – including the faintest objects ever observed in the infrared.
  7. teeming
    abundantly filled with especially living things
    Webb’s First Deep Field is galaxy cluster SMACS 0723, and it is teeming with thousands of galaxies – including the faintest objects ever observed in the infrared.
  8. observe
    discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
    Webb’s First Deep Field is galaxy cluster SMACS 0723, and it is teeming with thousands of galaxies – including the faintest objects ever observed in the infrared.
  9. sliver
    (figurative) a small or narrow piece or slice
    Webb’s image is approximately the size of a grain of sand held at arm’s length, a tiny sliver of the vast universe.
  10. vast
    unusually great in size or amount or extent or scope
    Webb’s image is approximately the size of a grain of sand held at arm’s length, a tiny sliver of the vast universe.
  11. mass
    the property of a body that causes it to have weight
    The combined mass of this galaxy cluster acts as a gravitational lens, magnifying more distant galaxies, including some seen when the universe was less than a billion years old.
  12. lens
    a transparent optical device used to form images
    The combined mass of this galaxy cluster acts as a gravitational lens, magnifying more distant galaxies, including some seen when the universe was less than a billion years old.
  13. magnify
    make large
    The combined mass of this galaxy cluster acts as a gravitational lens, magnifying more distant galaxies, including some seen when the universe was less than a billion years old.
  14. camera
    equipment for taking photographs
    This deep field, taken by Webb’s Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam), is a composite made from images at different wavelengths, totaling 12.5 hours – achieving depths at infrared wavelengths beyond the Hubble Space Telescope’s deepest fields, which took weeks.
  15. composite
    a conceptual whole made up of complicated and related parts
    This deep field, taken by Webb’s Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam), is a composite made from images at different wavelengths, totaling 12.5 hours – achieving depths at infrared wavelengths beyond the Hubble Space Telescope’s deepest fields, which took weeks.
  16. wavelength
    distance between successive crests of a periodic disturbance
    This deep field, taken by Webb’s Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam), is a composite made from images at different wavelengths, totaling 12.5 hours – achieving depths at infrared wavelengths beyond the Hubble Space Telescope’s deepest fields, which took weeks.
  17. exposure
    a picture taken with a camera or phone that shows people or scenes
    Researchers will continue to use Webb to take longer exposures, revealing more of our vast universe.
  18. data
    a collection of facts from which conclusions may be drawn
    Much more about this cluster will be revealed as researchers begin digging into Webb’s data.
  19. focus
    maximum clarity or distinctness of an image
    Webb’s NIRCam has brought distant galaxies into sharp focus – they have tiny, faint structures that have never been seen before, including star clusters and diffuse features.
  20. expansion
    the act of increasing in size or volume or quantity or scope
    The light was stretched by the expansion of the universe to infrared wavelengths that Webb was designed to observe.
  21. composition
    the way in which someone or something is put together
    Researchers will soon begin to learn more about the galaxies’ masses, ages, histories, and compositions.
  22. prominent
    conspicuous in position or importance
    Other features include the prominent arcs in this field.
  23. warp
    bend or twist out of shape
    The powerful gravitational field of a galaxy cluster can bend the light rays from more distant galaxies behind it, just as a magnifying glass bends and warps images.
  24. diffraction
    process by which light changes passing through a narrow slit
    Stars are also captured with prominent diffraction spikes, as they appear brighter at shorter wavelengths.
  25. kaleidoscope
    a complex pattern of constantly changing colors and shapes
    Webb’s MIRI image offers a kaleidoscope of colors and highlights where the dust is – a major ingredient for star formation, and ultimately life itself.
  26. formation
    the act of establishing or creating something
    Webb’s MIRI image offers a kaleidoscope of colors and highlights where the dust is – a major ingredient for star formation, and ultimately life itself.
  27. compound
    a substance formed by chemical union of two or more elements
    Green galaxies are populated with hydrocarbons and other chemical compounds.
  28. spectrum
    an ordered array of the components of an emission or wave
    In addition to taking images, two of Webb’s instruments also obtained spectra – data that reveal objects’ physical and chemical properties that will help researchers identify many more details about distant galaxies in this field.
  29. demonstrate
    provide evidence for
    NIRSpec data also demonstrate how detailed galaxy spectra will be with Webb observations.
  30. constellation
    a configuration of stars as seen from the earth
    SMACS 0723 can be viewed near the constellation Volans in the southern sky.
Created on Fri Jul 15 11:38:04 EDT 2022 (updated Fri Jul 15 13:17:22 EDT 2022)

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