NIRCam Archives

Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) image of M 82 (Mutchler et al. 2007) with the JWST NIRCam central mosaic footprint overlaid for reference. We use F658N (Hα), F555W, and F435W for red, green, and blue respectively. These JWST observations cover the central region of the starburst and the base of the wind bi-cone. They are part of a larger mosaic imaging the wind and the starburst, which will be acquired in 2024. -- astro-ph.GA

Astrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Status Report

JWST Observations of Starbursts: Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Emission at the base of the M 82 Galactic Wind

by Keith CowingFebruary 1, 2024February 1, 2024

We present new observations of the central 1 kpc of the M 82 starburst obtained with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) near-infrared camera (NIRCam) instrument at a resolution ~0.05″-0.1″ […]

Complex nebulosity and substructures in the disk, as seen in F2300C. The stretch is adjusted to bring up fainter features observed in the outer regions. Relevant features are annotated including the main and secondary disk planes and cat’s tail. The nebulosity to the west (top) includes both irregular clumps or knots, and also some apparent linear striations or tendrils. To the east (bottom) the clumps are fainter and fewer but still present, including one particular bright clump at bottom center. These clumps are consistently detected in identical positions on the sky seen in the two distinct rolls, confirming they are astrophysical in origin rather than any instrumental artifact. -- astro-ph.EP

Astronomy & Telescopes, Beta Pictoris, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report

JWST-TST High Contrast: Asymmetries, Dust Populations And Hints Of A Collision In The β Pictoris Disk With NIRCam And MIRI

by Keith CowingJanuary 14, 2024January 14, 2024

We present the first JWST MIRI and NIRCam observations of the prominent debris disk around Beta Pictoris. Coronagraphic observations in 8 filters spanning from 1.8 to 23~μm provide an unprecedentedly […]

The light curves and best fit models resulting from the Eureka! pipeline. The columns show, from left to right: transit 1, transit 2, transit 3. The rows show, from top to bottom: 1) the white light curve and residuals, 2) the spectroscopic light curves, 3) the best-fit models to the spectroscopic light curves, 4) the residuals from the spectroscopic light curve fitting. -- astro-ph.EP

Astronomy & Telescopes, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report

JWST/NIRCam Transmission Spectroscopy Of The Nearby Sub-Earth GJ 341b

by Keith CowingJanuary 12, 2024January 12, 2024

We present a JWST/NIRCam transmission spectrum from 3.9−5.0 μm of the recently-validated sub-Earth GJ 341b (RP=0.92 R⊕, Teq=540 K) orbiting a nearby bright M1 star (d=10.4 pc, Kmag=5.6).

This image from Webb’s MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument) shows the star system Beta Pictoris. An edge-on disk of dusty debris generated by collisions between planetesimals (orange) dominates the view. A hotter, secondary disk (cyan) is inclined by about 5 degrees relative to the primary disk. The curved feature at upper right, which the science team nicknamed the “cat’s tail,” has never been seen before. A coronagraph (black circle and two small disks) has been used to block the light of the central star, whose location is marked with a white star shape. In this image light at 15.5 microns is colored cyan and 23 microns is orange (filters F1550C and F2300C, respectively). NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, C. Stark and K. Lawson (NASA GSFC), J. Kammerer (ESO), and M. Perrin (STScI). -- NASA

Astronomy & Telescopes, Beta Pictoris, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release

Webb Telescope Discovers Dusty ‘Cat’s Tail’ In The Beta Pictoris System

by Keith CowingJanuary 11, 2024January 14, 2024

Beta Pictoris, a young planetary system located just 63 light-years away, continues to intrigue scientists even after decades of in-depth study.

Astronomy & Telescopes, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Neptune, Press Release

Exoplanet Practice: Webb Space Telescope Studies Uranus

by Keith CowingDecember 18, 2023December 18, 2023

Editor’s note: As we look outward at other worlds in other star systems we some major differences – and similarities with regard ot the variety of worlds and how they […]

The NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) instrument on NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope’s reveals a portion of the Milky Way’s dense core in a new light. An estimated 500,000 stars shine in this image of the Sagittarius C (Sgr C) region, along with some as-yet unidentified features. A large region of ionized hydrogen, shown in cyan, contains intriguing needle-like structures that lack any uniform orientation. NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, and S. Crowe (University of Virginia). Download full resolution images for this article from the Space Telescope Science Institute.

Astronomy & Telescopes, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Press Release, SETI & Technosignatures

Webb’s View Of The Galactic Center. 500,000+ Stars. How Many Have Life-bearing Worlds?

by Keith CowingNovember 26, 2023November 26, 2023

The latest image from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope shows a portion of the dense center of our galaxy in unprecedented detail, including never-before-seen features astronomers have yet to explain. […]

An artist’s rendering of the warm exoplanet WASP-80 b whose color may appear bluish to human eyes due to the lack of high-altitude clouds and the presence of atmospheric methane identified by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, similar to the planets Uranus and Neptune in our own solar system. Image credit: NASA.

Astrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Press Release

Methane And Water Found In The Atmosphere Of Exoplanet WASP-80 b

by Keith CowingNovember 22, 2023November 22, 2023

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope observed the exoplanet WASP-80 b as it passed in front of and behind its host star, revealing spectra indicative of an atmosphere containing methane gas […]

Starlight-subtracted and roll-combined final JWST/NIRCam images of AU Mic in both F356W (top) and F444W (bottom). The images have been oriented such that the assumed disk major axis is parallel to the x-axis. To highlight the relative brightness of the disk at F356W, the images are displayed with the same linear color stretch. Both images have been smoothed with a σ = 0.5 pixel gaussian for presentation, and are displayed within a 10′′ × 3. ′′5 FOV. The approximate coronagraphic inner working angle is indicated by the dashed black circle, while the approximate position of the occulted star is marked with a white star symbol. -- astro-ph.EP

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Astronomy & Telescopes, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report

JWST/NIRCam Coronagraphy of the Young Planet-hosting Debris Disk AU Microscopii

by Keith CowingAugust 8, 2023August 8, 2023

High-contrast imaging of debris disk systems permits us to assess the composition and size distribution of circumstellar dust, to probe recent dynamical histories, and to directly detect and characterize embedded […]

Side-by-side images of Saturn’s moon Titan, captured by Webb’s Near-Infrared Camera on 4 November 2022, with clouds and other features visible. Left image is various shades of red. Right image is shades of white, blue, and brown. — ESA

Astronomy & Telescopes, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release, Saturn, Titan

Webb Tracks Clouds On Saturn’s Moon Titan

by Keith CowingDecember 2, 2022April 14, 2024

These are images of Saturn’s moon Titan, captured by the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope’s NIRCam instrument on 4 November 2022.

Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release

Early Release Science Of The Exoplanet WASP-39b With JWST NIRCam

by Keith CowingNovember 21, 2022November 21, 2022

Measuring the metallicity and carbon-to-oxygen (C/O) ratio in exoplanet atmospheres is a fundamental step towards constraining the dominant chemical processes at work and, if in equilibrium, revealing planet formation histories.

NIRCam

JWST Observations of Starbursts: Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Emission at the base of the M 82 Galactic Wind

JWST-TST High Contrast: Asymmetries, Dust Populations And Hints Of A Collision In The β Pictoris Disk With NIRCam And MIRI

JWST/NIRCam Transmission Spectroscopy Of The Nearby Sub-Earth GJ 341b

Webb Telescope Discovers Dusty ‘Cat’s Tail’ In The Beta Pictoris System

Exoplanet Practice: Webb Space Telescope Studies Uranus

Webb’s View Of The Galactic Center. 500,000+ Stars. How Many Have Life-bearing Worlds?

Methane And Water Found In The Atmosphere Of Exoplanet WASP-80 b

JWST/NIRCam Coronagraphy of the Young Planet-hosting Debris Disk AU Microscopii

Webb Tracks Clouds On Saturn’s Moon Titan

Early Release Science Of The Exoplanet WASP-39b With JWST NIRCam

Dinosaur-killing Asteroid Also Created A Dust Cloud That Insulated Earth, Charbroiling Cretaceous Creatures

Current Water Trapping Micro-habitats On The Surface Of Mars

Methanotrophy Under Extreme Alkalinity In A Serpentinizing System

ANDES, The High-resolution Spectrograph Oof The ELT: Simulated Performance Of The CORO Module And Overview Of The High-contrast Capabilities For Exoplanet Observations

When Polymers Meet Primitive Membranes: How Molecular Cooperation May Have Helped Life Begin