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Virtual Guest for 12/24 JWST Launch
Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2021 11:13 pm
by Sureshks
Hi all,
I just signed up to be a Virtual Guest for the upcoming JWST launch on Friday 12/24. I thought I'd forward the link in case others are interested in doing so.
https://jwst.nasa.gov/content/webbLaunch/countdown.html
Suresh
Re: Virtual Guest for 12/24 JWST Launch
Posted: Sat Dec 25, 2021 8:26 am
by merle
Missed actual launch, but they have the replay available....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rARTOhbLDg
I was cloudy at launch, so limited pictures of launch, but still extremely cool!!!!
Merle
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Re: Virtual Guest for 12/24 JWST Launch
Posted: Sat Dec 25, 2021 8:29 am
by merle
They also had onboard cameras showing the JWST deployment and the solar panel extended.
Re: Virtual Guest for 12/24 JWST Launch
Posted: Sat Dec 25, 2021 4:33 pm
by rwcooper
Suresh & Merle,
Thanks for the links and images. I climbed out of bed early to watch the launch, and it was well worth it.
I downloaded tonight's JWST ephemeris from
NASA/JPL after it was suggested (on Twitter) that it might (might!) be bright enough to observe over the next several days. Edited data are below. The observing station is set to Minneapolis and the time is changed from UT to CST. JWST is in Orion and will be moving roughly 1/2 degree per hour, at least initially. Tonight's weather looks promising, so I plan to take a look. (I don't think I've peered at a telescope with a telescope before.) It may also be worth checking again in 5 days after the giant reflective heat shield has been unfurled, although it will be much further along to L2 by then.
Code: Select all
***************************************************************
Target body name: James Webb Space Telescope (spacecraft)
Observer Location: Minneapolis, MN (93°15′42.8″W, 44°58′57.0″N)
***************************************************************
Date__(CST)_HR:MN R.A._____(ICRF)_____DEC
***************************************************************
2021-Dec-25 18:00 A 05 14 18.31 -02 50 38.7
2021-Dec-25 19:00 05 16 25.38 -02 41 59.1
2021-Dec-25 20:00 05 17 56.33 -02 34 06.0
2021-Dec-25 21:00 05 18 59.42 -02 26 49.8
2021-Dec-25 22:00 05 19 42.76 -02 20 04.7
2021-Dec-25 23:00 05 20 14.53 -02 13 44.8
2021-Dec-26 00:00 m 05 20 42.21 -02 07 46.8
2021-Dec-26 01:00 m 05 21 12.24 -02 02 08.6
2021-Dec-26 02:00 m 05 21 49.84 -01 56 49.3
2021-Dec-26 03:00 m 05 22 38.77 -01 51 48.6
2021-Dec-26 04:00 m 05 23 41.35 -01 47 06.4
***************************************************************
Units:
RA in hours-minutes-seconds of time, HH MM SS.ff
DEC in degrees-minutes-seconds of arc, sDD MN SC.f
SOLAR/LUNAR PRESENCE (OBSERVING SITE):
'A' Astronomical twilight/dawn
' ' Night OR geocentric ephemeris
'm' Moon on or above apparent horizon