James Webb Space Telescope’s Second Year of Observations: A Diverse and Exciting Scientific Journey Awaits
The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) has announced the approval of the second-year program for general observations using the James Webb Space Telescope. Out of 1,600 applications submitted since the beginning of the year, 249 have been selected, accounting for 5,000 hours of direct telescope operation and 1,215 hours of parallel observations. The selection covers a broad range of scientific topics, from asteroids and exoplanets to cosmology.
International Collaboration
More than 5,450 scientists from 52 countries, including the United States, European Space Agency (ESA) member countries, and Canada, submitted observation proposals. The applications spanned all aspects of astronomy and astrophysics, from solar system bodies, exoplanets, supernova remnants, and merging neutron stars to nearby and distant galaxies, supermassive black holes at galactic centers, and the large-scale structure of the universe. In total, the submitted proposals would have required more than 35,000 hours of telescope operation, far exceeding the allocated 5,000 hours of observatory operation.
Selection Process
The proposals were selected through a double-anonymous peer-review (DAPR) method, conducted by 225 invited experts as well as 350 members of the Telescope Time Allocation Committee and the James Webb team at STScI and NASA. Introduced in 2016, the DAPR method ensures that reviewers do not know the identities of the submitting scientists, and the scientists do not know who is selecting the proposals or the topics being considered. The method has already yielded positive results, increasing the number of approved proposals led by students and women.
Additional Observation Programs
In addition to the general observation hours, the second year will include 12 large government-funded programs with a total duration of 1,650 hours. Of the approximately 5,000 hours of general observations, 48% of the time will be dedicated to small programs (less than 25 hours), 35% to medium programs (between 25 and 75 hours), and 17% to large programs (over 75 hours). The selected proposals were prepared by more than 2,088 researchers from 41 countries, including 38 U.S. states and territories, 14 ESA member countries, and six Canadian provinces. Ten percent of the proposals were led by students.
A Promising Year Ahead
The James Webb Space Telescope’s first year of observations was filled with discoveries, and the upcoming year promises to be even more exciting. A year later, scientists have a much better understanding of what to expect from the new telescope and how to utilize it most effectively. The international collaboration and diverse scientific endeavors in the second year of observations will undoubtedly lead to groundbreaking findings and further our understanding of the universe.
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- I'm Martin Harris, a tech writer with extensive experience, contributing to global publications. Trained in Computer Science, I merged my technical know-how with writing, becoming a technology journalist. I've covered diverse topics like AI and consumer electronics, contributing to top tech platforms. I participate in tech events for knowledge updating. Besides writing, I enjoy reading, photography, and aim to clarify technology's complexities to readers.
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