Students are to be given the chance to identify potential targets for the James Webb Space Telescope, which is being launched by NASA in 2021 to help us understand more about how planets, stars and galaxies formed and evolved.
Due to begin this month, the project is being organised by the Institute for Research in Schools (IRIS) with astronomers from the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s UK Astronomy Technology Centre in Edinburgh.
Students will be using spectral data from a previous mission. Astronomers and education staff from the UK ATC have worked with IRIS to develop a classroom activity in which students examine and classify this rich collection of existing data.
The ultimate goal is for students to collaborate with UK ATC astronomers on the selection of potential targets – making the scientific case for pointing the huge space observatory at these objects.
- Schools that are interested in taking part are encouraged to contact IRIS at info@researchinschools.org or visit www.researchinschools.org/projects/James_Webb.html