James Webb Space Telescope Feed Post


Literature
Date: 10/3/2024

Arxiv: The Tale of Two Telescopes: How Hubble Uniquely Complements the James Webb Space Telescope: Galaxies Published: 10/2/2024 5:40:28 AM Updated: 10/2/2024 5:40:28 AM

Paper abstract: In this paper, we present a simple but compelling argument, focusing ongalaxy science, for preserving the main imagers and operational modes of theHubble Space Telescope (HST) for as long as is technically feasible. Whilestar-formation started at redshifts z\gtrsim10-13, when the universe wasless than 300-500 Myr old, the CSFH did not peak until z~eq1.9, and hassteadily declined since that time. Hence, at least half of all stars in theuniverse formed in the era where HST provides its unique rest-frame UV view ofunobscured young, massive stars tracing cosmic star-formation. By rendering asubset of the 556.3 hours of available HST images in 12 filters of the HubbleUltra Deep Field (HUDF) in an appropriate mix of colors, we illustrate theunique capabilities of HST for galaxy science emphasizing that rest-frameUV-optical wavelength range. We then contrast this with the 52.7 publiclyavailable hours of JWST/NIRCam images in 8 filters of the same HUDF area fromthe JADES project, rendering these at the redder near-IR wavelengths toillustrate the unique capabilities of JWST to detect older stellar populationsat higher redshifts, as well as very dusty stellar populations and ActiveGalactic Nuclei (AGN). HST uniquely probes (unobscured) young, hot, massivestars in galaxies, while JWST reveals more advanced stages of older stellarpopulations, as well as relatively short-lived phases where galaxies produceand shed a lot of dust from intense star-formation, and the very high redshiftuniverse (z\gtrsim10-11) not accessible by HST. We conclude that HST andJWST are highly complementary facilities that took decades to build to ensuredecades of operation. To maximize return on investment on both HST and JWST,ways will need to be found to operate HST imaging instruments in all relevantmodes for as long as possible into the JWST mission.