James Webb Telescope to study interstellar objects

So far, astronomers have been able to observe only two interstellar objects passing through our solar system. Oumuamua (2017) this Borisov (2018). But scientists say there may be several similar objects, and now NASA will use James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to observe these stellar objects.

Martin Cordiner, an astrophysicist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, is the principal investigator of a new JWST study that will search for an interstellar object. He claims the technology could be used to study composition and understand material from another planetary system.

“Webb’s supreme sensitivity and power now gives us an unprecedented opportunity to probe the chemical composition of these interstellar objects and discover much more about their nature: where they come from, how they’re made, and what they can tell us,” Cordiner said. A statement from NASA.

interstellar observation

Once a possible interstellar object is identified, scientists will study it for days or months to confirm that it is indeed from another planetary system. Once confirmed, if the object’s orbit crosses JWST’s field of view, Cordiner will be able to observe the data and probe the chemical composition of the “interstellar traveler”.

The scientists are expected to use Webb’s infrared technology to analyze the “chemical fingerprints” of gases released by the object. They should also observe the dust and gravel produced by the object.

The James Webb Space Telescope will allow us to observe different objects in space, which paves the way for discoveries never made before. The interstellar study team doesn’t know what they’ll find yet, but they know it will be great for science.