First light (astronomy)
In astronomy, first light is the first time a telescope is used to look at the Universe.[1] This is often not the first time the telescope has been used. Tests will have been done during daylight to make sure everything is working. Images taken during first light are not normally of scientific interest. They are usually poor quality as the parts of the telescope have not been properly adjusted for best performance. Usually, a well-known and spectacular astronomical object is chosen. First light is always a moment of great excitement, both for the people who designed and built the telescope, and for the astronomical community.
For example, the 200-inch Hale Telescope saw first light January 26, 1949, targeting a nebula located in the constellation Monoceros.[2] under the direction of American astronomer Edwin Hubble. The image was published in many magazines.
The Large Binocular Telescope had its first light with a single primary mirror on October 12, 2005. This was a view of NGC 891, a spiral galaxy in the Andromeda constellation .[3][4] The second mirror was installed in January 2006 and the telescope became fully operational in January 2008.[5]
In physical cosmology, first light refers to the light coming from the first generation of hyperstars. These were formed less than a billion years after the big bang, bringing an end to the cosmological Dark Ages.[6]
First Light (astronomy) Media
The Sun in the first light image from the IRIS satellite
Very Large Telescope's wide field imager VIMOS takes its first light image of NGC 5364.
Hubble Space Telescope's first light with its impaired WFPC, 1990
First light of the Tarantula Nebula by TRAPPIST
First light of WISPR on the Parker Solar Probe, September 2018
Selfie: Primary mirror of the James Webb Space Telescope at destination.
18 images of same target star HD 84406 by the 18 unfocused mirror segments.
Phase 1 interim image, annotated with the related mirror segments that took each image.
18 unfocused images of same target star HD 84406.
Phase 1 annotated completion image of HD 84406.
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References
- ↑ Cain, Fraser (March 10, 2008). "The World's Most Powerful Telescope Sees First Light". universetoday.com. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
- ↑ "Citizen Science". 365 Days of Astronomy.
- ↑ "medusa.as.arizona.edu". Archived from the original on 2008-12-02. Retrieved 2011-03-25.
- ↑ "Large Binoccular Telescope Successfully Achieves First Light". www.spaceref.com. 26 October 2005. Archived from the original on 12 July 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
- ↑ "Giant telescope opens both eyes". BBC News. London. March 6, 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-06.
- ↑ Ellis, Richard. "Searching for first light in the Early Universe". Retrieved 2007-01-21.
