The should point it at the dark side of the Moon. — AgentTangarine

Allow me to alert you to the fact that there is no dark side of the moon. The side we do not see faces the sun as much as the side we do see. Also, the 'far side' of the moon has been surveyed to some extent, and there are interesting differences, The far side has denser rock than the near side.

Also, the Big Bang was around 13 billion light years in the past, not 90 billion.

the image I see when holding a mirror — AgentTangarine

Just shove your head up your ass and get an even better view.

Will the pictures JWT beams down be of the past (in terms of the universe)?

this 60 Minutes segment answers that question

Also, the Big Bang was around 13 billion light years in the past, not 90 billion. — Bitter Crank

I was referring to spatial dimensions. Well, actually you're right. It's only 45 billion ly...

Yes, the dark side of the Moon is the far side. But to us that's pretty dark, as we can't see it.

"Just shove your head up your ass and get an even better view."

:lol:

If it works, it will change what we can ask about the universe. — Paine

Are you serious?

I was referring to spatial dimensions. Well, actually you're right. It's only 45 billion ly... — AgentTangarine

I apparently do not know what I am talking about. "They" say the universe is 13 billion years old, give or take 15 minutes. check. "They" also say the universe is 93.016 billion light years across, one edge to the other. I misunderstood the 'light year' concept. A light year is equivalent to 5.88 trillion miles (9.46 trillion kilometers). a light year is a measure of distance, not time, which is where I got confused. So, for sure the universe is many gazillion miles across--or thick, long, diagonal--however you slice it.

I shall now blush and bow out of this discussion.

They" say the universe is 13 billion years old, give or take 15 minutes. — Bitter Crank

:lol:

So, for sure the universe is many gazillion miles across--or thick, long, diagonal--however you slice it. — Bitter Crank

If you slice the whole universe, you get a lot more pieces of the cake than only our observable piece. In the face of this enormous cake we look even smaller... But we are the ones eating it (the cake). And there are infinite universes ahead of us, and an infinite still come... I will get fat...

Merry second Christmas day!

"They" also say the universe is 93.016 billion light years across, one edge to the other. — Bitter Crank

The discrepancy has to do with the expansion of space, I believe. And don't feel abashed, we're all amateurs here, and it's a very technical topic.

@180 Proof @Wayfarer

The JWST reminds me of Russell's teapot!

By the way, fun fact: The JWST's design borrows from the ancient Japanese art of origami (paper folding).

thank you. I don't understand what the astrophysicist from 4:15 is saying about what can be learned about dark matter/energy.

So, JWT (or JWST) can tell us about the early evolution of galaxies, but she didn't explain what we would specifically find out about dark matter/energy.

So, JWT (or JWST) can tell us about the early evolution of galaxies, but she didn't explain what we would specifically find out about dark matter/energy. — The Opposite

Maybe a bit about dark matter, if you could find rotation curves of the early galaxies. You could find something about the receding velocity. And find that it was less than the recession velocity of closer galaxies. By means of galactic candles. But nothing essential.

So, JWT (or JWST) can tell us about the early evolution of galaxies, but she didn't explain what we would specifically find out about dark matter/energy. — The Opposite

I don't think anyone knows what they are, only that they must be real, in order to account for the data.

I hadn't reviewed that 60 Minutes segment, there's a ton of James Webb videos on Youtube. The best I've watched is on a service I subscribe to called Curiosity Stream but I didn't post it, because I think it's behind a paywall.

This 'un?

The opportunity to get data about the early universe is seriously important.

By means of galactic candles — AgentTangarine

What are those?

The opportunity to get data about the early universe is seriously important. — Paine

Are you serious? It's already obvious to me what happened at the big bang and before (which can be better described as far away from us).

What are those? — The Opposite

"Hubble Space Telescope. In astronomy: Dark energy …1980s astronomers began to use Type Ia supernovae as standard candles"

They are standards of light intensities. They all are about the same. It was discovered that some of them stand further as expected. Which implied accelerated expansion.

Why should anybody be interested in what you think?
So far, you have only offered rhetorical responses.

I have offered the most actual info of all...It's a waste of money. Pure thought brings you a lot further. For free. No Webb needed.

We live in the bit of experience life offers to us.
The notion that you have information is suspect as such. Who made you the wizard of worlds not available to us ordinary humans?

We live in the bit of experience life offers to us.
The notion that you have information is suspect as such. Who made you the wizard of worlds not available to us ordinary humans? — Paine

The wizard of worlds? I didn't create it! But I do understand it. With or without Webb.

That must be really cool for you but useless for your brothers and sisters.

The notion that you have information is suspect as such. — Paine

Why is that suspect?

Yes! That was the mini-doco that inspired me to start this thread. Lays it out well and also showcases some of the project leaders.

That must be really cool for you but useless for your brothers and sisters. — Paine

My brothers and sisters? My sister is not one bit interested. Like most people. Except a few "chosen" ones.

If it is only something that cannot be demonstrated to others, then only silence will suffice.

That must be really cool for you but useless for your brothers and sisters. — Paine

You think your brothers and sisters are interested in photographs of a 100 million year old galaxy? Nothing to be learned from that.

If it is only something that cannot be demonstrated to others, then only silence will suffice. — Paine

What on Earth are you talking about? Why should I stay silent? Because it's a silly project?