High Demand and Tough Choices: James Webb Space Telescope Faces Record Proposals
Astronomers from various corners of the globe gathered last week to evaluate the latest array of research proposals destined for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) . With a staggering 1,931 submissions, a record-breaking figure in the history of telescopes, the experts diligently sifted through each proposal, assigning rankings. However, only one out of every nine proposals will ultimately secure the coveted opportunity to gather data using the JWST, as decisions from the reviewers are set to be unveiled starting in late February. The overwhelming demand underscores the resounding success of the space observatory, which has captivated astronomers with its groundbreaking discoveries, including sightings of some of the earliest galaxies and an abundance of black holes in the remote corners of the Universe since its launch in December 2021. Astronomers Convene to Assess Unprecedented Number of Research Proposals Grant Tremblay, an astronomer at the Harvard–Smithsonian Center for ...