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class="firstHeading mw-first-heading"><span class="mw-page-title-main">First light (astronomy)</span></h1> <div id="p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown mw-portlet mw-portlet-lang" > <input type="checkbox" id="p-lang-btn-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox mw-interlanguage-selector" aria-label="Go to an article in another language. Available in 26 languages" > <label id="p-lang-btn-label" for="p-lang-btn-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--action-progressive mw-portlet-lang-heading-26" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-language-progressive mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-language-progressive"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">26 languages</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ar mw-list-item"><a href="https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A3%D9%88%D9%84_%D8%B6%D9%88%D8%A1_(%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%85_%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D9%84%D9%83)" title="أول ضوء (علم الفلك) – Arabic" lang="ar" hreflang="ar" data-title="أول ضوء (علم الفلك)" data-language-autonym="العربية" data-language-local-name="Arabic" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>العربية</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ca mw-list-item"><a href="https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primera_llum" title="Primera llum – Catalan" lang="ca" hreflang="ca" data-title="Primera llum" data-language-autonym="Català" data-language-local-name="Catalan" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Català</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-cs mw-list-item"><a href="https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prvn%C3%AD_sv%C4%9Btlo" title="První světlo – Czech" lang="cs" hreflang="cs" data-title="První světlo" data-language-autonym="Čeština" data-language-local-name="Czech" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Čeština</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-de mw-list-item"><a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erstes_Licht" title="Erstes Licht – German" lang="de" hreflang="de" data-title="Erstes Licht" data-language-autonym="Deutsch" data-language-local-name="German" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Deutsch</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-es mw-list-item"><a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primera_luz" title="Primera luz – Spanish" lang="es" hreflang="es" data-title="Primera luz" data-language-autonym="Español" data-language-local-name="Spanish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Español</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fa mw-list-item"><a href="https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%86%D8%AE%D8%B3%D8%AA%DB%8C%D9%86_%D9%86%D9%88%D8%B1_(%D8%A7%D8%AE%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%B4%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B3%DB%8C)" title="نخستین نور (اخترشناسی) – Persian" lang="fa" hreflang="fa" data-title="نخستین نور (اخترشناسی)" data-language-autonym="فارسی" data-language-local-name="Persian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>فارسی</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fr mw-list-item"><a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premi%C3%A8re_lumi%C3%A8re" title="Première lumière – French" lang="fr" hreflang="fr" data-title="Première lumière" data-language-autonym="Français" data-language-local-name="French" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Français</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ko mw-list-item"><a href="https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%ED%8D%BC%EC%8A%A4%ED%8A%B8_%EB%9D%BC%EC%9D%B4%ED%8A%B8_(%EC%B2%9C%EB%AC%B8%ED%95%99)" title="퍼스트 라이트 (천문학) – Korean" lang="ko" hreflang="ko" data-title="퍼스트 라이트 (천문학)" data-language-autonym="한국어" data-language-local-name="Korean" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>한국어</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hy mw-list-item"><a href="https://hy.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D4%B1%D5%BC%D5%A1%D5%BB%D5%AB%D5%B6_%D5%AC%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%B5%D5%BD" title="Առաջին լույս – Armenian" lang="hy" hreflang="hy" data-title="Առաջին լույս" data-language-autonym="Հայերեն" data-language-local-name="Armenian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Հայերեն</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-id mw-list-item"><a href="https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cahaya_pertama" title="Cahaya pertama – Indonesian" lang="id" hreflang="id" data-title="Cahaya pertama" data-language-autonym="Bahasa Indonesia" data-language-local-name="Indonesian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bahasa Indonesia</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-it mw-list-item"><a href="https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prima_luce" title="Prima luce – Italian" lang="it" hreflang="it" data-title="Prima luce" data-language-autonym="Italiano" data-language-local-name="Italian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Italiano</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-he mw-list-item"><a href="https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%90%D7%95%D7%A8_%D7%A8%D7%90%D7%A9%D7%95%D7%9F_(%D7%90%D7%A1%D7%98%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%A0%D7%95%D7%9E%D7%99%D7%94)" title="אור ראשון (אסטרונומיה) – Hebrew" lang="he" hreflang="he" data-title="אור ראשון (אסטרונומיה)" data-language-autonym="עברית" data-language-local-name="Hebrew" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>עברית</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ka mw-list-item"><a href="https://ka.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E1%83%9E%E1%83%98%E1%83%A0%E1%83%95%E1%83%94%E1%83%9A%E1%83%98_%E1%83%A8%E1%83%A3%E1%83%A5%E1%83%98_(%E1%83%90%E1%83%A1%E1%83%A2%E1%83%A0%E1%83%9D%E1%83%9C%E1%83%9D%E1%83%9B%E1%83%98%E1%83%90)" title="პირველი შუქი (ასტრონომია) – Georgian" lang="ka" hreflang="ka" data-title="პირველი შუქი (ასტრონომია)" data-language-autonym="ქართული" data-language-local-name="Georgian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>ქართული</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-lb mw-list-item"><a href="https://lb.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89ischt_Liicht" title="Éischt Liicht – Luxembourgish" lang="lb" hreflang="lb" data-title="Éischt Liicht" data-language-autonym="Lëtzebuergesch" data-language-local-name="Luxembourgish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Lëtzebuergesch</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-nl mw-list-item"><a href="https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eerste_licht" title="Eerste licht – Dutch" lang="nl" hreflang="nl" data-title="Eerste licht" data-language-autonym="Nederlands" data-language-local-name="Dutch" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Nederlands</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ja mw-list-item"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B9%E3%83%88%E3%83%A9%E3%82%A4%E3%83%88" title="ファーストライト – Japanese" lang="ja" hreflang="ja" data-title="ファーストライト" data-language-autonym="日本語" data-language-local-name="Japanese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>日本語</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pl mw-list-item"><a href="https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierwsze_%C5%9Bwiat%C5%82o" title="Pierwsze światło – Polish" lang="pl" hreflang="pl" data-title="Pierwsze światło" data-language-autonym="Polski" data-language-local-name="Polish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Polski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pt mw-list-item"><a href="https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primeira_luz_(astronomia)" title="Primeira luz (astronomia) – Portuguese" lang="pt" hreflang="pt" data-title="Primeira luz (astronomia)" data-language-autonym="Português" data-language-local-name="Portuguese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Português</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ro mw-list-item"><a href="https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prima_lumin%C4%83_(astronomie)" title="Prima lumină (astronomie) – Romanian" lang="ro" hreflang="ro" data-title="Prima lumină (astronomie)" data-language-autonym="Română" data-language-local-name="Romanian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Română</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ru mw-list-item"><a href="https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9F%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B2%D1%8B%D0%B9_%D1%81%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%82_(%D0%B0%D1%81%D1%82%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%87%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B5_%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%81%D1%82%D1%80%D1%83%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%82%D1%8B)" title="Первый свет (астрономические инструменты) – Russian" lang="ru" hreflang="ru" data-title="Первый свет (астрономические инструменты)" data-language-autonym="Русский" data-language-local-name="Russian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Русский</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sco mw-list-item"><a href="https://sco.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_licht" title="First licht – Scots" lang="sco" hreflang="sco" data-title="First licht" data-language-autonym="Scots" data-language-local-name="Scots" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Scots</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-simple mw-list-item"><a href="https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_light_(astronomy)" title="First light (astronomy) – Simple English" lang="en-simple" hreflang="en-simple" data-title="First light (astronomy)" data-language-autonym="Simple English" data-language-local-name="Simple English" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Simple English</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sr mw-list-item"><a href="https://sr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9F%D1%80%D0%B2%D0%B0_%D1%81%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%BB%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82_(%D0%B0%D1%81%D1%82%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%98%D0%B0)" title="Прва светлост (астрономија) – Serbian" lang="sr" hreflang="sr" data-title="Прва светлост (астрономија)" data-language-autonym="Српски / srpski" data-language-local-name="Serbian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Српски / srpski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-th mw-list-item"><a href="https://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%87%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%81" title="แสงแรก – Thai" lang="th" hreflang="th" data-title="แสงแรก" data-language-autonym="ไทย" data-language-local-name="Thai" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>ไทย</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-uk mw-list-item"><a href="https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9F%D0%B5%D1%80%D1%88%D0%B5_%D1%81%D0%B2%D1%96%D1%82%D0%BB%D0%BE_(%D0%B0%D1%81%D1%82%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%BC%D1%96%D1%8F)" title="Перше світло (астрономія) – Ukrainian" lang="uk" hreflang="uk" data-title="Перше світло (астрономія)" data-language-autonym="Українська" data-language-local-name="Ukrainian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Українська</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-zh mw-list-item"><a href="https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%96%8B%E5%85%89" title="開光 – Chinese" lang="zh" hreflang="zh" data-title="開光" data-language-autonym="中文" data-language-local-name="Chinese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>中文</span></a></li> </ul> <div class="after-portlet after-portlet-lang"><span class="wb-langlinks-edit wb-langlinks-link"><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityPage/Q1306940#sitelinks-wikipedia" title="Edit interlanguage links" class="wbc-editpage">Edit links</a></span></div> </div> </div> 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.hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">This article is about the testing of telescopes. For the first light of dawn, see <a href="/wiki/Twilight#Nautical_twilight" title="Twilight">Twilight § Nautical twilight</a>. For the cosmogonical age, see <a href="/wiki/First_light_(cosmology)" class="mw-redirect" title="First light (cosmology)">first light (cosmology)</a>.</div> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 252px;"> <div class="thumbimage" style="width: 250px; height: 250px; overflow: hidden;"> <div style="position: relative; top: -15px; left: -75px; width: 400px"><div class="noresize"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Kepler_mission_first_light.tiff" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="First light image from the Kepler space telescope[1]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/Kepler_mission_first_light.tiff/lossy-page1-400px-Kepler_mission_first_light.tiff.jpg" decoding="async" width="400" height="300" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/Kepler_mission_first_light.tiff/lossy-page1-600px-Kepler_mission_first_light.tiff.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/Kepler_mission_first_light.tiff/lossy-page1-800px-Kepler_mission_first_light.tiff.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2400" data-file-height="1800" /></a></span></div></div> </div> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Kepler_mission_first_light.tiff" title="File:Kepler mission first light.tiff"> </a></div>First light image from the <a href="/wiki/Kepler_space_telescope" title="Kepler space telescope">Kepler space telescope</a><sup id="cite_ref-kepler_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-kepler-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </div> </div> </div> <p>In <a href="/wiki/Astronomy" title="Astronomy">astronomy</a>, <b>first light</b> is the first use of a <a href="/wiki/Telescope" title="Telescope">telescope</a> (or, in general, a new instrument) to take an <a href="/wiki/Astrophotography" title="Astrophotography">astronomical image</a> after it has been constructed. This is often not the first viewing using the telescope; optical tests will probably have been performed to adjust the components. </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Characteristics">Characteristics</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=First_light_(astronomy)&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Characteristics"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The first light image is normally of little scientific interest and is of poor quality, since the various telescope elements are yet to be adjusted for optimum efficiency. Despite this, a first light is always a moment of great excitement, both for the people who design and build the telescope and for the astronomical community, who may have anticipated the moment for many years while the telescope was under construction. A well-known and spectacular <a href="/wiki/Astronomical_object" title="Astronomical object">astronomical object</a> is usually chosen as a subject.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (July 2019)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Historical_examples">Historical examples</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=First_light_(astronomy)&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Historical examples"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:IRIS_first_light_SJI_image.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/IRIS_first_light_SJI_image.jpg/220px-IRIS_first_light_SJI_image.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="182" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/IRIS_first_light_SJI_image.jpg/330px-IRIS_first_light_SJI_image.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/IRIS_first_light_SJI_image.jpg/440px-IRIS_first_light_SJI_image.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1146" data-file-height="950" /></a><figcaption>The Sun in the first light image from the IRIS satellite</figcaption></figure> <p>The famous 5.08-metre (200 in) <a href="/wiki/Hale_Telescope" title="Hale Telescope">Hale Telescope</a> of <a href="/wiki/Palomar_Observatory" title="Palomar Observatory">Palomar Observatory</a> saw first light on 26 January 1949, targeting <a href="/wiki/NGC_2261" title="NGC 2261">NGC 2261</a><sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> under the direction of American astronomer <a href="/wiki/Edwin_Powell_Hubble" class="mw-redirect" title="Edwin Powell Hubble">Edwin Powell Hubble</a>. The image was published in many magazines and is available on Caltech Archives.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (July 2019)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p><p>The <a href="/wiki/Isaac_Newton_Telescope" title="Isaac Newton Telescope">Isaac Newton Telescope</a> had two first lights: one in England in 1965 with its original mirror, and another in 1984 at La Palma island.<sup id="cite_ref-ing_3-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ing-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The second first light was done with a video camera that showed the <a href="/wiki/Crab_Pulsar" title="Crab Pulsar">Crab Pulsar</a> flashing.<sup id="cite_ref-light_4-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-light-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Elation at first light images by the <a href="/wiki/Hubble_Space_Telescope" title="Hubble Space Telescope">Hubble Space Telescope</a> in 1990 soon gave way to initial disappointment when a flaw prevented adjustments for proper operation. The expected first light image quality was finally achieved after a <a href="/wiki/STS-61" title="STS-61">1993 servicing mission</a> by <a href="/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Endeavour" title="Space Shuttle Endeavour">Space Shuttle <i>Endeavour</i></a>. </p><p>The <a href="/wiki/Large_Binocular_Telescope" title="Large Binocular Telescope">Large Binocular Telescope</a> had its first light with a single primary mirror on 12 October 2005, which was a view of <a href="/wiki/NGC_891" title="NGC 891">NGC 891</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The second primary mirror was installed in January 2006 and became fully operational in January 2008.<sup id="cite_ref-BBC_7-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-BBC-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The 10.4-metre (1,040 cm) <a href="/wiki/Gran_Telescopio_Canarias" title="Gran Telescopio Canarias">Gran Telescopio Canarias</a> had a first light image of Tycho 1205081 on 14 July 2007.<sup id="cite_ref-backreaction_8-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-backreaction-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p> The <a href="/wiki/Interface_Region_Imaging_Spectrograph" title="Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph">IRIS</a> solar space observatory achieved first light on 17 July 2013.<sup id="cite_ref-iris_9-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-iris-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The <a href="/wiki/Principal_investigator" title="Principal investigator">PI</a> noted: </p><blockquote><p>"The quality of images and spectra we are receiving from IRIS is amazing. This is just what we were hoping for ..."<sup id="cite_ref-iris_9-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-iris-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></p></blockquote><p> On 4 February 2022, the first light viewed by the <a href="/wiki/James_Webb_Space_Telescope" title="James Webb Space Telescope">James Webb Space Telescope</a> (JWST) was from the star <a href="/wiki/HD_84406" class="mw-redirect" title="HD 84406">HD 84406</a> for the purpose of testing and aligning the focus of the <a href="/wiki/Optical_Telescope_Element" title="Optical Telescope Element">telescope's 18 mirrors</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-GZM-20220204_10-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-GZM-20220204-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FT-20220206_11-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FT-20220206-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> On 11 February 2022. <i><a href="/wiki/The_New_York_Times" title="The New York Times">The New York Times</a></i> reported that "first light" images from the James Webb Space Telescope were released - as well as a related <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlwatKpla8s">NASA alignment video (2/11/2022; 3:00)</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-NYT-20220211_12-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-NYT-20220211-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> On 6 July 2022, NASA released a test image from the JWST's Fine Guidance Sensor.<sup id="cite_ref-WSJ-20220708_13-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-WSJ-20220708-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> NASA released the first official JWST image on 11 July 2022.<sup id="cite_ref-NASA-20220711_14-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-NASA-20220711-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-NYT-20220711_15-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-NYT-20220711-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Later, in an official ceremony, the first collection of five JWST science images were released on Tuesday, 12 July 2022 (NASA-TV live; 10:30 am/et/usa).<sup id="cite_ref-NASA-20220614_16-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-NASA-20220614-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-AT-20220629_17-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-AT-20220629-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></p><div style="clear:both;" class=""></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1273380762/mw-parser-output/.tmulti">.mw-parser-output .tmulti .multiimageinner{display:flex;flex-direction:column}.mw-parser-output .tmulti 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decoding="async" width="175" height="101" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/NASA%E2%80%99s_Webb_Reveals_Cosmic_Cliffs%2C_Glittering_Landscape_of_Star_Birth.jpg/263px-NASA%E2%80%99s_Webb_Reveals_Cosmic_Cliffs%2C_Glittering_Landscape_of_Star_Birth.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/NASA%E2%80%99s_Webb_Reveals_Cosmic_Cliffs%2C_Glittering_Landscape_of_Star_Birth.jpg/350px-NASA%E2%80%99s_Webb_Reveals_Cosmic_Cliffs%2C_Glittering_Landscape_of_Star_Birth.jpg 2x" data-file-width="14575" data-file-height="8441" /></a></span></div></div><div class="tsingle" style="width:222px;max-width:222px"><div class="thumbimage"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Southern_Ring_Nebula_(NIRCam_and_MIRI_Images_Side_by_Side).png" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Southern_Ring_Nebula_%28NIRCam_and_MIRI_Images_Side_by_Side%29.png/220px-Southern_Ring_Nebula_%28NIRCam_and_MIRI_Images_Side_by_Side%29.png" decoding="async" width="220" height="102" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Southern_Ring_Nebula_%28NIRCam_and_MIRI_Images_Side_by_Side%29.png/330px-Southern_Ring_Nebula_%28NIRCam_and_MIRI_Images_Side_by_Side%29.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Southern_Ring_Nebula_%28NIRCam_and_MIRI_Images_Side_by_Side%29.png/440px-Southern_Ring_Nebula_%28NIRCam_and_MIRI_Images_Side_by_Side%29.png 2x" data-file-width="9284" data-file-height="4310" /></a></span></div></div><div class="tsingle" style="width:109px;max-width:109px"><div class="thumbimage"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Stephan%27s_Quintet_taken_by_James_Webb_Space_Telescope.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/Stephan%27s_Quintet_taken_by_James_Webb_Space_Telescope.jpg/107px-Stephan%27s_Quintet_taken_by_James_Webb_Space_Telescope.jpg" decoding="async" width="107" height="103" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/Stephan%27s_Quintet_taken_by_James_Webb_Space_Telescope.jpg/161px-Stephan%27s_Quintet_taken_by_James_Webb_Space_Telescope.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/Stephan%27s_Quintet_taken_by_James_Webb_Space_Telescope.jpg/214px-Stephan%27s_Quintet_taken_by_James_Webb_Space_Telescope.jpg 2x" data-file-width="12654" data-file-height="12132" /></a></span></div></div><div class="tsingle" style="width:125px;max-width:125px"><div class="thumbimage"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Stephan%E2%80%99s_Quintet_(MIRI_Imaging).png" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/Stephan%E2%80%99s_Quintet_%28MIRI_Imaging%29.png/123px-Stephan%E2%80%99s_Quintet_%28MIRI_Imaging%29.png" decoding="async" width="123" height="103" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/Stephan%E2%80%99s_Quintet_%28MIRI_Imaging%29.png/185px-Stephan%E2%80%99s_Quintet_%28MIRI_Imaging%29.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/Stephan%E2%80%99s_Quintet_%28MIRI_Imaging%29.png/246px-Stephan%E2%80%99s_Quintet_%28MIRI_Imaging%29.png 2x" data-file-width="2444" data-file-height="2049" /></a></span></div></div><div class="tsingle" style="width:152px;max-width:152px"><div class="thumbimage"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Exoplanet_WASP-96_b_(NIRISS_Transmission_Spectrum)_(weic2206a).jpeg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/18/Exoplanet_WASP-96_b_%28NIRISS_Transmission_Spectrum%29_%28weic2206a%29.jpeg/150px-Exoplanet_WASP-96_b_%28NIRISS_Transmission_Spectrum%29_%28weic2206a%29.jpeg" decoding="async" width="150" height="101" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/18/Exoplanet_WASP-96_b_%28NIRISS_Transmission_Spectrum%29_%28weic2206a%29.jpeg/225px-Exoplanet_WASP-96_b_%28NIRISS_Transmission_Spectrum%29_%28weic2206a%29.jpeg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/18/Exoplanet_WASP-96_b_%28NIRISS_Transmission_Spectrum%29_%28weic2206a%29.jpeg/300px-Exoplanet_WASP-96_b_%28NIRISS_Transmission_Spectrum%29_%28weic2206a%29.jpeg 2x" data-file-width="3840" data-file-height="2583" /></a></span></div></div></div></div></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Gallery">Gallery</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=First_light_(astronomy)&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Gallery"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul class="gallery mw-gallery-packed center"> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 219.33333333333px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 217.33333333333px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:NGC_5317_(also_NGC_5364).jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Very Large Telescope's wide field imager VIMOS takes its first light image of NGC 5364."><img alt="Very Large Telescope's wide field imager VIMOS takes its first light image of NGC 5364." src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/NGC_5317_%28also_NGC_5364%29.jpg/326px-NGC_5317_%28also_NGC_5364%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="218" height="200" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/NGC_5317_%28also_NGC_5364%29.jpg/489px-NGC_5317_%28also_NGC_5364%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/NGC_5317_%28also_NGC_5364%29.jpg/651px-NGC_5317_%28also_NGC_5364%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="800" data-file-height="737" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext"><a href="/wiki/Very_Large_Telescope" title="Very Large Telescope">Very Large Telescope</a>'s wide field imager <a href="/wiki/VIMOS" class="mw-redirect" title="VIMOS">VIMOS</a> takes its first light image of <a href="/wiki/NGC_5364" title="NGC 5364">NGC 5364</a>.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 134.66666666667px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 132.66666666667px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Hubble_First_Light,_First_Released_Image_(STScI-1990-04a).png" class="mw-file-description" title="Hubble Space Telescope's first light with its impaired WFPC, 1990"><img alt="Hubble Space Telescope's first light with its impaired WFPC, 1990" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/Hubble_First_Light%2C_First_Released_Image_%28STScI-1990-04a%29.png/199px-Hubble_First_Light%2C_First_Released_Image_%28STScI-1990-04a%29.png" decoding="async" width="133" height="200" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/Hubble_First_Light%2C_First_Released_Image_%28STScI-1990-04a%29.png/299px-Hubble_First_Light%2C_First_Released_Image_%28STScI-1990-04a%29.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/Hubble_First_Light%2C_First_Released_Image_%28STScI-1990-04a%29.png/399px-Hubble_First_Light%2C_First_Released_Image_%28STScI-1990-04a%29.png 2x" data-file-width="543" data-file-height="817" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext"><a href="/wiki/Hubble_Space_Telescope" title="Hubble Space Telescope">Hubble Space Telescope</a>'s first light with its impaired <a href="/wiki/Wide_Field_and_Planetary_Camera" title="Wide Field and Planetary Camera">WFPC</a>, 1990</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 200px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 198px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Tarantula_Nebula_TRAPPIST.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="First light of the Tarantula Nebula by TRAPPIST"><img alt="First light of the Tarantula Nebula by TRAPPIST" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/Tarantula_Nebula_TRAPPIST.jpg/297px-Tarantula_Nebula_TRAPPIST.jpg" decoding="async" width="198" height="200" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/Tarantula_Nebula_TRAPPIST.jpg/445px-Tarantula_Nebula_TRAPPIST.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/Tarantula_Nebula_TRAPPIST.jpg/594px-Tarantula_Nebula_TRAPPIST.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2016" data-file-height="2038" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">First light of the <a href="/wiki/Tarantula_Nebula" title="Tarantula Nebula">Tarantula Nebula</a> by <a href="/wiki/TRAPPIST" title="TRAPPIST">TRAPPIST</a></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 323.33333333333px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 321.33333333333px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:WISPR_first_light_image.png" class="mw-file-description" title="First light of WISPR on the Parker Solar Probe, September 2018"><img alt="First light of WISPR on the Parker Solar Probe, September 2018" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3b/WISPR_first_light_image.png/482px-WISPR_first_light_image.png" decoding="async" width="322" height="200" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3b/WISPR_first_light_image.png/723px-WISPR_first_light_image.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3b/WISPR_first_light_image.png/964px-WISPR_first_light_image.png 2x" data-file-width="2872" data-file-height="1788" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">First light of <a href="/wiki/WISPR" title="WISPR">WISPR</a> on the <a href="/wiki/Parker_Solar_Probe" title="Parker Solar Probe">Parker Solar Probe</a>, September 2018</div> </li> </ul> <div style="clear:both;" class=""></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=First_light_(astronomy)&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist reflist-columns references-column-width reflist-columns-2"> <ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-kepler-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-kepler_1-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free 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