The first image of the Webb telescope capturing the distant universe was revealed in the USA – SME.sk

NASA has released an image of the early universe from more than 13 billion years ago, it is the first image from the James Webb Space Telescope. President Joe Biden unveiled it at a press conference. The image captures thousands of cosmic galaxies. This image, known as the “deep field”, captures many stars, with huge galaxies in the foreground, and in the background in some places even barely noticeable and very distant galaxies shine through. In the foreground of the image is a cluster of galaxies known as SMACS 0723, which acts as a “gravitational lens” distorting space, making it possible to amplify the light coming from the more distant galaxies behind the cluster, Reuters explains. It is the most distant view of the universe in terms of distance and time, as it captures the period shortly after the universe was formed. and at the same time its edge, reports AP. “This is the oldest documented light in the history of the universe, more than 13 billion years ago,” said Biden during the unveiling. This light is thus only 800 million years younger than the so-called big bang – the theoretical point of explosion after which the universe was created approximately 13.8 billion years ago. “It’s a new window into the history of our universe, and today we can glimpse the first light that shines through this window,” added Biden. On Tuesday, NASA will also publish four more images taken by the James Webb telescope, among which will be, for example, a photo of a gas giant outside our of the solar system or the nebula in which stars arise and disappear. The James Webb telescope was launched into space last December. It is the largest and most powerful space telescope ever launched into space and was designed to peer through the cosmos to the very beginning of the known universe, writes Reuters. (TASR)