We Are Astronomers

Our understanding of space has changed throughout history.

The Universe we know today has little resemblance to that accepted by our ancestors.

Just 400 years ago most people thought the Earth was at the centre of the Universe.

They imagined the planets and stars fixed to giant spheres that turned stately around the Earth.

Then an Italian astronomer named Galileo pointed a telescope at the night sky.

What he discovered forever changed our perspective on the Universe and our place within it.

Galileo blazed a trail for successive generations of astronomers.

With their telescopes they discovered new planets, stars, mysterious objects.

Nearly 200 years agoastronomers made the first measurements

of the true distance of the stars,

results are astounding.

Early in the twenty century our understanding of the scale of the Universe exploded.

Edwin Hubble revealed those mysterious objects that actually (?) galaxies.

New types of telescopes enable astronomers to explore the hidden Universe beyond visible light.

Placing telescopes into space provided incredible views of the Universe and the flood of new discoveries.

Astronomers witnessed the birth and death of stars,

found black holes and observed collisions between galaxies.

Exciting breakthroughes are happening everyday.

But just imagine what we might discover tomorrow

Yeah, I look so (?).

Isn't it here all share a person that studies the skies.

Is there's somebody who goes into space and explores?

They have oxygen cylinder with them?

Soon in a big white jacket, if (?)

The (bubble) over the head.

Look at men, look at the planets.

Measuring distances and they have those observatories, those big (?) globe shapes to them.

The ideal horoscopes every week.

Outthink an older gentleman this (?) for hobby.

Uses big telescopes, this other one.

Yeah, telescopes.

They going astronauts go into space showing them looking from Earth.

Not into the Universe.

I'm not really sure.

Do you know what an astronomer does?

The world of the astronomer has changed.

These days you really find an astronomer sitting alone with the eye to a telescope.

Advances in global communication have enabled astronomers to form a worldwide network

unlimited by location or timezones.

They collaborate on huge international projects

and share their findings with other scientists.

Today's astronomer is not the lone observer of past centuries,

but part of the international effort who crosses traditional boundaries,

bringing biologists, chemists, physicists, computer programmers and engineers together

to solve the biggest unanswered questions of our time.

The stunning images and data captured by modern telescopes

provide astronomers with fresh(?).

Now by working together they can extract huge amounts of information from the tiniest beams of light.

This light may have been travelling toward Earth for thousands, millions or even billions of years.

To capture as much as this is possible astronomers have to overcome many challenges.

Many places have cloudless nights for only part of the year.

Even in countries with clear skies light pollution from cities can wash out the stars

and hide all but the brightest objects.

So, astronomers from all over the world have come together

to pick the best location for the telescopes.

This sites are usually above the clouds

and often in some of the most remote, inaccessible places

One of the best sites on Earth is in a South American county of Chile.

Located in mountains 2600 m above see level

is one of the most advanced optical telescopes in the world.

The Very Large Telescope...

... or VLT.

The VLT is made up four giant telescopes

that can work together as one to capture much more details.

Each telescope can collect one hundred thousand times more lights

than Galileo's telescope 400 years ago.

The high altitude and extreme dryness here

provide excellent conditions for astronomical observations.

The distorting effects of the atmosphere which makes stars twinkle are greatly reduced.

To get the best images astronomers use a special technique.

A laser is used to create an artificial star.

A computer measures the effects of the atmosphere on this star

whilst special optics compensate for the distortion being detected.

Teams of astronomers from across the globe have already used the VLT

to observe the most distant galaxy (?).

Amazingly.

We have even captured the first direct image of a planet orbiting another star.

Our eyes are blind to most of the light coming from space,

full range of which is called the electromagnetic spectrum.

Fortunately for us deadly part of this spectrum such as ultraviolet and x-rays

are mostly blocked by the atmosphere.

But it also means that if astronomers want to truly see the Universe

some of the telescopes must be launched high above the atmosphere...

... into space.

Creating a space telescope is a complex and challenging business.

Hundreds of people are involved and planning each mission.

By the tim it comes to launch the have painstakingly constructed and tested a precision instrument.

Can you imagine the stress of watching your precious cargo

being strapped to the top of a giant rocket.

All those years of dedication and sacrifice (?)

It all comes down to one moment.

One hope.

One chance.

Velocity 7000 km per hour.

Полёт нормальный.

This is the James Webb Space Telescope.

It is the largest and most complex ever designed.

The sun-shield will unfold to the size of a tennis court.

18 separate mirrors will transform into one giant mirror.

It will see objects up to 100 times fainter than the Hubble Space Telescope.

The James Webb Space Telescope will embark (?) to a remote orbit

4 times farther away from Earth than Moon.

This unique location allows the JWST

to keep its sensitive instruments shielded from interference from the Earth and Sun

1,5 million km from Earth

it will take up residence (?).

At this distance there is little (?)

This colossal telescope will be used to investigate

the earliest and most distant objects to form in the Universe.

It will capture light that has been traveling towards us for billions of years.

It's the closest we can get to a time machine.

For the next decade the JWST

will be the main space observatory for thousands of astronomers.

The immense complexity of this project required expertise from 15 countries.