Space missions are often interpreted by the public as something remote and inaccessible, but all that has been left behind thanks to the Web. With a couple of simple searches we can receive information and updates almost in real time; however, there is also the possibility of accompanying two of the most important space telescopes, Hubble and Webb, in their observations. All we have to do is visit the Space Telescope Live portal, choose a telescope, and learn more about its programs.
The misnamed "Grandpa Hubble" will turn 35 in 2025, and with every capture it proves that "old is gold", as they say in some regions. On the other hand, the James Webb telescope has not yet completed three years in its mission. It cost a lot of money and took too long to reach its position, but the science it has delivered so far is fabulous.
Of course, they are not alone up there. Gamma rays, X-rays, ultraviolet, infrared, particle detection, microwaves... there is very important hardware, and in the coming years we will witness several launches, but with Hubble and Webb we have an advantage: thanks to the Space Telescope Live portal, it is possible to accompany both telescopes in their observations and know exactly which region of the cosmos they are pointing at.
Space Telescope Live: Hubble and Webb, One Click Away
The page is divided into two sections: one for Hubble, and the other for the James Webb telescope. Both work the same way, presenting at the top a summary with the target, the research program it belongs to, and the estimated duration of the observation. Now, the images are not streams; they are part of sources such as Digitized Sky Survey 2, Two Micron All Sky Survey, and other similar ones.
These alternative images also allow us to visualize previous projects, and why not, get ahead a little with the "itinerary" of both telescopes. NASA explains that Space Telescope Live began as a webapp in 2016, and it is not too far-fetched to imagine that it will incorporate the data of other telescopes in the future.
Official website: Click here
