Virtual Guest for 12/24 JWST Launch

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Sureshks
Posts: 1220
Joined: Fri Aug 29, 2014 10:43 pm
Real Name: Suresh Sreenivasan
Location: Hopkins, MN

Virtual Guest for 12/24 JWST Launch

Post 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
Suresh Sreenivasan
B-SIG/FB/Metcalf Comm

Refr: AP 130mm GTX/SW 120mm/Borg 4"/Unitron 150 4"/Jason 2.25”
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merle
Posts: 3962
Joined: Fri Feb 18, 2005 10:04 am
Location: Farmington / Lakeville

Re: Virtual Guest for 12/24 JWST Launch

Post 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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Screen Shot 2021-12-25 at 8.23.28 AM.png (381.99 KiB) Viewed 1085 times
Clear skies,
Merle Hiltner
MAS Eagle Lake Observatory
Onan Observatory • Sylvia A. Casby Observatory • HotSpot Classroom
merle.hiltner@gmail.com
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merle
Posts: 3962
Joined: Fri Feb 18, 2005 10:04 am
Location: Farmington / Lakeville

Re: Virtual Guest for 12/24 JWST Launch

Post by merle »

They also had onboard cameras showing the JWST deployment and the solar panel extended.
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Clear skies,
Merle Hiltner
MAS Eagle Lake Observatory
Onan Observatory • Sylvia A. Casby Observatory • HotSpot Classroom
merle.hiltner@gmail.com
rwcooper
Posts: 74
Joined: Wed Dec 20, 2017 1:51 pm
Real Name: Ron Cooper
Location: Minnetonka

Re: Virtual Guest for 12/24 JWST Launch

Post 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
Ron Cooper
Minnetonka, MN
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