Dispatch from the Department of Cheery Continuance
“It Still Works, and Isn’t That Wonderful?”
Et adhuc operatur — mirabile dictu!
“Behold: the unseen at last stands revealed by patient craft and cosmic patience.”
—From the Ledger of Celestial Persistence
In an act of astronomical alchemy, the James Webb Space Telescope has, for the first time, captured a direct image of a brand-new exoplanet—TWA 7 b, a Saturn-sized world nestled within the shimmering cradle of its youthful star.
This remarkable feat isn’t just a technical marvel—it’s a cosmic unveiling. Caught in the dusty whirl of a young stellar nursery, TWA 7 b offers scientists a rare glimpse at the mechanics of planet birth. And thanks to Webb’s coronagraphic wizardry, we’ve silenced the blinding light of its host star long enough to see the planet for ourselves.
Why This Discovery Belongs in the Department’s Scrolls:
- Proof of continuing promise: Webb continues to deliver, years after deployment.
- Smallest planet directly imaged: At Saturn’s mass, it’s one of the lightest ever captured this way.
- New chapter in cosmic origin stories: It provides a living snapshot of planetary adolescence.
In short: the telescope that took a generation to build continues to surprise, enthrall, and expand the frontiers of the possible. As we peer into the haze of interstellar dust, we are reminded: the universe is still working, and so are we.
Read the full story at Science News →
Et adhuc operatur — mirabile dictu!
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