We know next to nothing about the other 6 billion or so Earth-like planets in the galaxy. With the imminent launch of the largest, most powerful space telescope ever built, Laura Kreidberg is optimistic this will soon change. NASA’s $10 billion James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), set to launch in December after decades of planning and construction, will allow astronomers like Kreidberg to peer into rocky planets’ skies and, she said, “turn these planets into places.”
Key Takeaways:
- Thanks to its large sun shield, the James Webb Space Telescope will be able to detect faint infrared radiation.
- Laura Kreidberg’s research on exoplanet atmospheres is focused on detecting alien life in the universe.
- The JWST will be effective at observing rocky planets and volcanic activity.
“Kreidberg is the lead investigator for two programs in JWST’s coveted first round of observations.”
