NASA scientist to present latest news from James Webb Space Telescope in Nicosia

NASA scientist Dr. Alexandra Lockwood will on 22 May give a presentation in Nicosia on the latest news from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWSP).

The Cyprus Space Exploration Organisation's (CSEO) Space Research Center will open its doors at 6.30pm to the public of Cyprus to experience a presentation by Dr. Alexandra Lockwood and spend an evening filled with Space.

In a statement to CNA, CSEO President George Danos said that "we are excited that Dr. Alexandra Lockwood will be with us to talk about the latest news from the Telescope, as well as the exciting discoveries on life beyond Earth. Are we alone in the universe? Dr. Lockwood will be sharing with us the latest exciting news from the James Webb Space Telescope, including its discoveries about the potential for life beyond Earth," he added. 

Dr. Alexandra Lockwood is a Project Scientist for NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, MD. She is currently on detail to NASA Headquarters, where she serves as the Strategic Messaging and Engagement Lead for the Science Mission Directorate. She has been brought to Cyprus for a short visit by the United States Embassy in Nicosia and the U.S. Department of State’s Educational and Cultural Affairs Bureau.

CSEO President George Danos told CNA that just two years ago, the whole world was captivated by the first stunning images sent by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the most powerful telescope ever built.

"We fondly remember our eager anticipation of seeing these images, which depicted the Carina Nebula, a vast dust and star formation 7,000 light-years away. This opened a new powerful eye for humanity peering into the depths of the universe, all the way back to the "moments" after the Big Bang," he pointed out.

Danos recalled that at that time, the selection of CSEO by NASA to simulcast these first images "was a great honor for our country. We all gathered together to share that historic moment".

These images, he went on to say, marked the beginning of a new era in astronomy, filled with exciting discoveries and incredible revelations about our universe.

We never imagined, however, Danos added, that today we would have the honour of welcoming the NASA Communications Lead for the James Webb Space Telescope to Cyprus.

"We are excited that Dr. Alexandra Lockwood will be with us  to talk about the latest news from the Telescope, as well as the exciting discoveries on life beyond Earth. Are we alone in the universe? Dr. Lockwood will be sharing with us the latest exciting news from the James Webb Space Telescope, including its discoveries about the potential for life beyond Earth," he said.

Ahead of her visit to Cyprus (19-24 of May), Dr Lockwood spoke to CNA about her contacts on the island, the JWST and new discoveries to come.

Dr Lockwood, who is a Project Scientist for NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, was invited by CNA to say how this modern telescope has changed our understanding of the universe and our existence in the cosmos.

The Webb Telescope, she replied, has already revolutionized astronomy by showing us the farthest galaxies in the universe, discovering atmospheres on rocky exoplanets, and bringing forth new insights into the process of star and planet formation.

"The Webb Telescope, with its large mirrors and sensitive infrared instruments, enables astronomers to not only find new objects, but to really understand what they are made of - their chemical compositions - using special spectrographs across a variety of wavelengths" she pointed out.

Asked what she believes will be the next important milestones in the space sector for the whole of humanity, she said that "I am personally excited by the combination of science and exploration that NASA is pursuing".

"As we go back to the Moon with humans, and we do so in collaboration with industry, I think we will find out new things about ourselves and our Solar System," she stressed.

Dr Lockwood noted that "we are working across all of our science disciplines to look for signs of life near and far, and relate them back to our own experiences and Earth".

"The discoveries to come, in the next decade and beyond, will give us a new perspective on our Universe," she told CNA.

(Source: CNA)