In November of 1990, Toby Goodman received a gift from his father for his 10th birthday. It was a telescope: an item with a purpose and capacity for evoking awe that no other toy had. It was no surprise that telescopes filled the shelves of toy stores in London: a few months before receiving the gift, Toby explains, the Hubble Space Telescope had launched, captivating the wonder of people from all walks of life.

On July 12, 2022, a new era in astronomy dawned. The first full-color images and spectroscopic data from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope were released, capturing yet again the minds and imaginations of people the world over.

In this episode, you’ll learn about the history of space telescopes and what the images from the James Webb Space Telescope mean for humanity. We compare and contrast the physical attributes and functions of the Hubble and James Webb space telescopes. You’ll gain insight into the life and design expectancies of the space telescopes and how the Hubble has changed over the years. We also discuss the value of images from space telescopes and how they shape peoples’ perspectives about humanity’s place in the cosmos.

“Those specks aren’t stars. They’re galaxies—thousands of them in this little piece of sky you’ve always thought was empty.” - Kathy Sullivan

This week on Kathy Sullivan Explores:

●     The contributions of Edwin Hubble to astronomy

●     The Hubble Constant and how to figure out the distance of galaxies

●     James Webb, his role at NASA, and the importance of honoring pioneers

●     Comparing the physical attributes of the Hubble Space Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope

●     How the James Webb Space Telescope observes objects the naked eye can’t see

●     The challenges of building a spacecraft

●     The threads of continuity between the Hubble and Webb space telescopes

●     How the first images from Hubble captured the popular imagination

●     How the James Webb Space Telescope sees farther into the universe and further back in time

●     How scientists decide where to focus the space telescopes

●     The reason I wrote Handprints on Hubble

●     A brief history of space telescopes and the problem of looking at the cosmos from the earth

●     The ‘Endless Frontier’ report and how it shaped the American astronomical enterprise

●     Nancy Grace Roman: NASA’s first Chief Astronomer and Mother of Hubble

●     How the Hubble Space Telescope has changed since its launch

●     The distance of the Hubble and Webb space telescopes from the earth

●     The life and design expectancies of the Hubble and Webb space telescopes

●     How to see the Hubble Space Telescope from the earth

●     How to use the Hubble Space Telescope as an amateur astronomer

●     The Hubble Ultra-Deep Field

●     The value of astronomy to human lives

Resources Mentioned:

●     You Should Do a Podcast about That

Our Favorite Quotes:

●     “[The] telescope…had a purpose about it. With it came a built-in excitement of seeing faraway places that provoked dreams about what it was like to be an explorer in outer space.” - Toby Goodman

●     “NASA’s job is to push back the frontiers of science and knowledge about the cosmos, the solar system, and our place in it.” - Kathy Sullivan

Connect with Toby Goodman:

●     Podcast Network Solutions

●     Narrow Podcasting

●     Podcast: Podcast Business Coach

●     Book: Narrow Podcasting: Make Profitable Connections and Grow your Business, Without Paid Ads, Sponsors, or Thousands of Listeners

●     Podcast Network Solutions on LinkedIn

●     Podcast Network Solutions on Facebook

●     Toby Goodman on Instagram

Spaceship Not Required

I’m Kathy Sullivan, the only person to have walked in space and gone to the deepest point in the ocean.

I’m an explorer, and that doesn’t always have to involve going to some remote or exotic place. It simply requires a commitment to put curiosity into action.

In this podcast, you can explore, reflecting on lessons learned from life so far and from my brilliant and ever-inquisitive guests. We explore together in this very moment from right where you are--spaceship not required.

Welcome to Kathy Sullivan Explores.

Visit my website at kathysullivanexplores.com to sign up for seven astronaut tips to improving your life on earth and be the first to discover future episodes and learn about more exciting adventures ahead!

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