Compare Webb's Images to Hubble

#1

Post by hexomancer » Tue, Jul 12, 2022, 6:41 PM UTC

Compare Webb's Images to Hubble
johnedchristensen.github.io

Re: Compare Webb's Images to Hubble

#2

Post by somenewaccount1 » Tue, Jul 12, 2022, 7:44 PM UTC

Thank you so much!!! I really wanted to see the difference side by side and this was an even better presentation. Really cool!

Re: Compare Webb's Images to Hubble

#3

Post by ijidak » Tue, Jul 12, 2022, 7:45 PM UTC

This is perfect! Without this context it's hard to appreciate how much better Webb is!

Re: Compare Webb's Images to Hubble

#4

Post by mholt » Tue, Jul 12, 2022, 7:47 PM UTC

Here's a backyard telescope versus Webb: https://twitter.com/AJamesMcCarthy/status/154694183270093209...

More comparisons on Twitter, some zoomed in:

- https://twitter.com/Batsuto_/status/1546899241880240128

- https://twitter.com/Batsuto_/status/1546900387931766784

- https://twitter.com/JBWillcox/status/1546881033597075457

- https://twitter.com/jason4short/status/1546626672488632321

I'm not a physicist, so I've only recently learned about redshift. Hubble's deep field images were very dark red/orange because further objects appear redder (into infrared) before they disappear to the observer. Webb's sensors are more red/infrared-sensitive than Hubble's, so along with extremely fine, super-cooled optics using exotic materials to align and capture every single photon, its red sensitivity allows Webb to peer deeper, further, and dimmer than we've ever been able to before.

And I've read that the "spikes" coming off the brighter stars are generally from stars in our own galaxy and they're not lens flares. They're caused by the edges of the telescope. Hubble's stars would have 4 spikes in a cross; Webb has 6 in a snowflake because of the shape of Webb's mirrors having 6 sides. Or something like that.

Re: Compare Webb's Images to Hubble

#5

Post by thatswrong0 » Tue, Jul 12, 2022, 7:48 PM UTC

Just needs to include exposure time differences and this is perfect. Glad to witness the power of this fully armed and operational battle station.

Re: Compare Webb's Images to Hubble

#6

Post by wanderingstan » Tue, Jul 12, 2022, 7:53 PM UTC

Amazing! Would be interesting to also compare with earth-bound telescopes, to really appreciate the progress.

Re: Compare Webb's Images to Hubble

#7

Post by laserbeam » Tue, Jul 12, 2022, 7:54 PM UTC

thatswrong0 wrote: post #5

Just needs to include exposure time differences and this is perfect. Glad to witness the power of this fully armed and operational battle station.

It's my understanding that Webb used much shorter exposure times than Hubble, correct?

Re: Compare Webb's Images to Hubble

#8

Post by prohobo » Tue, Jul 12, 2022, 7:54 PM UTC

Is it absurd to think that maybe the Carina Nebula's shape has visibly shifted a bit since the last photo?

Re: Compare Webb's Images to Hubble

#9

Post by kadoban » Tue, Jul 12, 2022, 7:55 PM UTC

mholt wrote: post #4

Here's a backyard telescope versus Webb: https://twitter.com/AJamesMcCarthy/status/154694183270093209... More comparisons on Twitter, some zoomed in: - https://twitter.com/Batsuto_/status/1546899241880240128 - https://twitter.com/Batsuto_/status/1546900387931766784 - https://twitter.com/JBWillcox/status/1546881033597075457 - https://twitter.com/jason4short/status/1546626672488632321 I'm not a physicist, so I've only…

They're not lens flares, but they're still an artifact of the system, which is probably what most people mean by "lens flare" anyway, due to lack of a better common term.

Re: Compare Webb's Images to Hubble

#10

Post by baltimore » Tue, Jul 12, 2022, 7:55 PM UTC

Now build a zoomable full-res version. Because I am spoiled and want the internet to do things for me.