Here's how you can access JWST and Hubble Telescope observations live from home

The vast cosmos stretching beyond us feels unreachable, except to a select few seasoned scientists and space agencies. However, deep space exploration has become significantly more accessible, largely thanks to data from instruments like the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and the Hubble Space Telescope. Initially, we only had access to images released publicly by NASA and ESA; however, technological advances now allow us to have direct access to the visual field of the equipment. Websites such as Space Telescope Live provide live updates on the two telescopes and their fields of view.

In a milestone achievement, we have the opportunity to see the universe through these telescopes in real-time. This includes tracking the current targets of the telescopes to see celestial phenomena - such as a dying star, a planet formation, or a distant nebula - at the same time their sensors capture them. Developed and operated by the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), Space Telescope Live is a web application that gives us a live feed of JWST and Hubble Telescope observations.

The website features an interactive interface that explains the instrument being used, its purpose, and its target location in the sky. Here’s how to access the visuals:

Home page of the tracking website

The home page provides us with two options, allowing us to choose between the Hubble and the JWST. Upon selecting one, we are redirected to a new page that shows the visual being reviewed by the telescope at the moment. The top right corner has the option to change the telescope, taking us to a different page.

'What is Webb/Hubble observing?'

Upon selecting a specific telescope, details about the target, target category, and the research program under which the observation is being done will reflect on the screen. An option to view the observation details reveals the instruments making the observation and the scheduled timings of the same. The details of the research can also be accessed from the dashboard. A ticking timer is present that traces the duration until the Next Scheduled Observation.

Target visuals shown on the website

Both the pages for the Hubble and Webb follow the same formatting, with added options of viewing the target for the current, previous, or next day. The visuals currently being targeted have a tracker under them, organized according to date and time, helping us trace the targets at particular intervals.

The Hubble has changed humanity's fundamental understanding of the universe, according to NASA. Its design, technology, and serviceability render the telescope as one of NASA's most transformative observatories. Hubble has studied the atmospheric composition of planets around other stars and discovered dark energy. NASA’s James Webb telescope has studied all the phases in the universe’s history, from the first glow of the Big Bang to the formation of systems, as per NASA. Unlike the Hubble, JWST orbits the Sun 1 million miles away from the Earth.

Such a provision bridges the gap between the complexity of the cosmos as captured by NASA and the general public's understanding of it. This opportunity of real-time access helps grow a sense of global connection and pushes us to see beyond our grounded perspectives on Earth, into the interstellar. 

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