Wonders of the Universe Explored

Have you seen the pictures just released of the universe from the James Webb Telescope? They are breathtaking. The telescope has already taken pictures of “starlight filtering through the atmosphere of a planet outside our solar system.” This planet is over 1,150 light years away from earth. The picture reveals a cloudy haze and distinct signatures of water. The telescope observed the ebb and flow of black holes and revealed a hundreds of distant galaxies.

We are truly at the beginning of an explosion of new information about the universe and perhaps the existence of life on other planets.



The machinery of the telescope is a wonder of science far too complicated for a non-scientist to adequately explain. It had to be built to get to a very stable position in space, unfold its huge mirror with one side facing the sun and the other side in the shade and cooled to -370F, maintain its orbit, and send information and pictures back to earth. This is a great example of human invention and ability to find innovative solutions to complex problems. We will be learning a lot about the universe in the years to come.

Besides refreshing the knowledge that our own planet is indeed in a “sweet spot” in the universe, we are reminded of our responsibility to protect the sustainability of our earthly home. Also, consider what might be accomplished if we decided to use the same drive and ingenuity to reduce/reverse global warming. 

Earth Steward Action:  Go to the NASA site and view the pictures and then look up at the sky tonight and wonder about the universe and its Creator.

Sources: https://www.nasa.gov/content/james-webb-space-telescope-latest-news and https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/webb/observatory/index.html