Who is ready to be “thrown” through a loop? A supermassive black hole’s feedback loop to be exact! Decoder: In these images, RED indicates COLD and TEAL indicates HOT. (1/7)
Supermassive black holes, which lie at the centers of galaxies, are voracious! They periodically “sip” or “gulp” from COLD swirling disks of gas and dust that orbit them. Where there’s lots of very cold gas, stars can begin to form—but it also falls onto the black hole. (2/7)
As a result of “nom, nom, noming” on all that delicious cold gas, supermassive black holes launch outflows in the form of radiation, jets, and wind! (It’s gettin’ hot in here!) (3/7)
These outflows (which take the form of radiation, jets, and wind!) heat the cold gas in the galaxy. (4/7)
Once the gas is heated, it’s like flicking a light switch—star formation stops—and the hot gas also stops falling onto the supermassive black hole. (5/7)
Then … there’s a lot of waiting. Think in terms of millions of years. (LOTS of time for meditation!) Once the gas cools, stars begin forming again—and the cycle repeats! But wait … there’s more … (6/7)
When #NASAWebb begins observing galaxies’ cores, it will pierce through the dust to deliver images and high-resolution infrared data—allowing us to learn precisely how one process sets off another. Watch the video on repeat: bit.ly/3ryRmwu (7/7)

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More from @SpaceTelescope

Mar 10
This was definitely the selfie seen around the world! But HOW was #NASAWebb able to take a selfie? Joe DePasquale, senior science visuals developer at @stsci, digs in! 🧵 <1/9> Image
DePasquale: The press release states that there is a specially designed pupil imaging lens (PIL) in one of Webb’s main imaging instruments known as NIRCam. What is a PIL anyway? <2/9>
DePasquale: PIL then is a specially designed lens whose sole purpose is to provide a clear image of that aperture allowing you to see where light enters the system. You can see it on the lower left side in this diagram of NIRCam. <3/9> Image
Read 9 tweets
Feb 21
We’re all made of star stuff, right? 🌟

As they die, massive stars—at least 8 times bigger than our sun—populate the universe with new elements. How does that happen? We’ll show you each step! 👇🏼 (1/7)

Credit: NASA, ESA, and L. Hustak (STScI). Image
Stars don’t normally explode 💥 because they balance two forces: gravity, which wants to crush all of the gas towards the center, and pressure from fusion, which pushes outward.

The first stage of a star’s life is fueled by hydrogen-to-helium fusion. (2/7) Image
Over a star’s lifetime, the core will run out of fuel, contract and heat up, and begin new fusion reactions.

This creates a multi-layered core, with heavier elements fusing in the hot, dense center and shells of lighter elements fusing at cooler temperatures. (3/7) Image
Read 7 tweets
Nov 2, 2021
We have the right tools for the job! @NASAWebb has four instruments that will examine the universe in different ways, thanks to the six components that make up the devices. (1/8)
#WebbInstruments #UnfoldTheUniverse
Cameras: Three Webb instruments have cameras 📷 that will capture two-dimensional images of regions in space. NIRCam and NIRISS will capture images in the near-infrared, while MIRI will capture mid-infrared images. (2/8)
Spectrographs: All four of Webb’s instruments have spectrographs that spread light out into a rainbow-like spectrum 🌈 so the brightness of each individual wavelength can be measured. Webb has different types of spectrographs, each designed for a slightly different purpose. (3/8)
Read 8 tweets
Jun 9, 2021
Science discoveries made by @NASAWebb are expected to revolutionize our understanding of the cosmos and our origins within the universe! Dive into what Webb could reveal about the cosmos: bit.ly/3wJ1r9U Credit: ESO/M. Kornmesser. #AAS238 (1/9)
Mission goals for Webb include: Search for the first galaxies that formed in early universe; study the evolution of galaxies; observe star formation; and measure physical and chemical properties and investigate the potential for life in planetary systems. #AAS238 (2/9)
Webb is equipped with specialized instruments that detect infrared wavelengths, the light just beyond the visible spectrum. Infrared radiation can penetrate dense molecular clouds, whose dust blocks most of the light detectable by Hubble. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech #AAS238 (3/9)
Read 9 tweets
Jun 9, 2021
Research telescopes include scientific instruments that record light precisely. The extreme sensitivity and precision of @NASAWebb’s four instruments support its unprecedented scientific power: bit.ly/3fIQm35 Credit: NASA. #AAS238 (1/7)
Each of Webb’s four instruments is like a Swiss army knife of specialized components, with multiple ways of observing. All four can be used for investigations of the wide variety of objects that make up the universe, including planets, stars, nebulae, and galaxies. #AAS238 (2/7)
Webb’s instruments are housed in the Integrated Science Instrument Module (ISIM), which is situated behind the primary mirror on the cold side of the telescope where it is protected by the sunshield. Credit: NASA and STScI. #AAS238 (3/7)
Read 7 tweets
Jun 8, 2021
The bigger the telescope, the better its vision. @NASAWebb is the largest telescope NASA has ever sent into space. Webb is designed to be as light as possible, but still measure large enough to achieve its scientific goals: bit.ly/3icJRa4 Credit: NASA. #AAS238 (1/10) Image
Webb’s key components include an enormous primary mirror to collect infrared light, a supersized sunshield to keep the telescope cold, and four scientific instruments to conduct its ambitious science operations. Credit: NASA. #AAS238 (2/10) Image
Webb’s primary mirror towers more than two stories high. For the telescope to fit in the launch vehicle, an Ariane 5 rocket, it must fold origami-style to about a quarter of its full size, then unfold on its way to its orbit location. #AAS238 (3/10)
Read 10 tweets

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