The Future of Space Telescopes: Four Proposals for the Next Generation

🔭The James Webb and Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescopes are successors to the Hubble Space Telescope, while the Webb and Roman telescopes are more accurately described as successors to the Spitzer infrared space telescope.

🌌Astronomers are already planning the next four New Great Observatories for the 2030s and beyond.

🌍The Habitable Exoplanet Observatory (HabEx) aims to directly image and characterize Earth-like exoplanets.

💥The Lynx X-ray Observatory is designed to probe the Universe at high energies and reveal the true nature of objects.

🌌The Origins Space Telescope aims to trace cosmic history from the formation of the first galaxies to the creation of habitable worlds.

What is the purpose of these future space telescopes?

—The purpose of these future space telescopes is to advance our understanding of the Universe by addressing key scientific questions and studying various phenomena such as exoplanets, X-ray sources, and the formation of galaxies and habitable worlds.

What are the main features of the James Webb and Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescopes?

—The James Webb and Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescopes are successors to the Hubble Space Telescope and operate in the infrared spectrum, allowing them to observe objects that are difficult to observe with optical telescopes.

What is unique about the Habitable Exoplanet Observatory (HabEx)?

—HabEx is designed to directly image and characterize Earth-like exoplanets for the first time. It aims to study the atmospheres of these exoplanets and investigate their potential habitability.

What is the goal of the Lynx X-ray Observatory?

—The Lynx X-ray Observatory aims to study high-energy radiation sources, such as protostars, black holes, and galaxies, to better understand their formation and evolution.

What scientific questions does the Origins Space Telescope address?

—The Origins Space Telescope aims to address questions related to the formation of planetary systems, the role of water in habitable planet formation, and the delivery of water and life's ingredients to Earth and other exoplanets.

00:00The video introduces the four future space telescope proposals and their significance in advancing astronomy.

02:54The first proposal is the Habitable Exoplanet Observatory (HabEx), which aims to directly image and characterize Earth-like exoplanets for the first time.

08:56The second proposal is the Lynx X-ray Observatory, designed to probe the Universe at high energies and reveal the true nature of objects.

12:04The third proposal is the Origins Space Telescope, which aims to trace cosmic history from the formation of the first galaxies to the creation of habitable worlds.

17:25The fourth proposal is the Large Ultraviolet, Optical, and Infrared Surveyor (LUVOIR), which is designed to be the largest space telescope ever conceived and would have transformative capabilities.