On Wednesday, Oct. 17, Union University hosted Mason Ruby—a doctoral student at the University of Memphis and adjunct professor at Union University—in Harvey Hall for a guest lecture on the James Webb Space Telescope and its impact on the physics community.
The lecture was focused primarily on the recent launch of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and its technological advancements which set it apart from the older Hubble Space Telescope.
“The James Webb Space Telescope is a huge success,” Ruby said. “With this telescope, we are able to discover light from the very first galaxies in the universe. We’re also able to explore distant worlds in the solar system, at a much higher resolution than before.”
The lecture also covered how discoveries and technological advances such as these, in any of the scientific disciplines, can benefit people of various professions and walks of life.
“We are learning new things about how the universe works,” Ruby said.
“I think my main takeaway was just the fact that we’ve already gained new insight into distant galaxies,” Zane Bolton, a sophomore engineering major, said, “and the different processes that are going on out in the far reaches of outer space, because of this telescope’s capabilities that Hubble did not have. Engineering and physics go hand in hand and the technology of the cameras and just the building of the telescope is very impressive to me.”
After the lecture, students were invited to join Ruby, along with other members of the Union Physics department, to go outside and observe the night sky using telescopes and binoculars.
Though the lecture was focused primarily on themes of interest to the physics department, it was open to anyone who desired to attend.
The launch of the James Webb Space Telescope was planned and executed by NASA in conjunction with the European Space Agency.
