A striking image of Jupiter, our solar system’s largest planet, was captured by the James Webb Space Telescope.
It shows the planet’s giant rings and its icy moon, Europa.
On Tuesday, the first set of images from the world’s most powerful space observatory was released. They included views of galaxy clusters, stars' births and deaths and the atmosphere of an enormous gas planet.
But, the $10 billion telescope is also observing planets in our solar system, with a photo of Jupiter taken as a test shot before science operations began.
Bryan Holler, a scientist at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, Maryland, who helped to plan these observations, said that the image demonstrates the telescope's capabilities.
“Combined with the deep field images released the other day, these images of Jupiter demonstrate what Webb can observe, from the faintest, most distant observable galaxies to planets in our own cosmic backyard that you can see with the naked eye from your actual backyard,” he said.
The image shows some of the features the gas giant is famous for, including its Great Red Spot, a high-pressure region in its atmosphere that is big enough to swallow the Earth.
On the left of the planet, Europa is visible, a moon that is likely to have an ocean below its icy crust.
Other visible moons in these images include Thebe and Metis.
Stefanie Milam, Webb’s deputy project scientist for planetary science at Nasa’s Goddard Space Flight Centre, said the telescope’s abilities were “exciting”.
“I couldn’t believe that we saw everything so clearly and how bright they were,” she said.
“It’s really exciting to think of the capability and opportunity that we have for observing these kinds of objects in our solar system.”
The images helped to prove that Webb can observe satellites and rings near bright solar system objects such as Jupiter, Saturn and Mars.
Scientists will use the telescope to explore questions of whether we can see plumes of material spewing out of moons like Europa and Saturn’s moon Enceladus.
Webb may also be able to see the signatures of plumes depositing material on the surface on Europa.
“I think that’s just one of the coolest things that we’ll be able to do with this telescope in the solar system,” Dr Milam said.
The telescope was launched on Christmas Day 2021, from a spaceport in French Guiana.
It will observe galaxies that formed almost 13.8 billion years ago, shortly after the Big Bang.
It will also capture data on atmospheres of planets outside of our solar system, referred to as exoplanets.
Scientists hope that the observations will help answer questions about the universe, including life beyond Earth and the evolution of the universe.
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Despacito's dominance in numbers
Released: 2017
Peak chart position: No.1 in more than 47 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Lebanon
Views: 5.3 billion on YouTube
Sales: With 10 million downloads in the US, Despacito became the first Latin single to receive Diamond sales certification
Streams: 1.3 billion combined audio and video by the end of 2017, making it the biggest digital hit of the year.
Awards: 17, including Record of the Year at last year’s prestigious Latin Grammy Awards, as well as five Billboard Music Awards
if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
'Top Gun: Maverick'
Rating: 4/5
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris
Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
Villains
Queens of the Stone Age
Matador
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The years Ramadan fell in May
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
Understand What Black Is
The Last Poets
(Studio Rockers)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
