The content and consequence of the first data release from the James Webb Space Telescope

Abstract

<p indent="0mm">The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is the biggest and the most expensive space telescope project led by NASA. The observation band of <sc>0.7–29 μm</sc> with various image cameras, spectrographs, and coronagraphic instruments enables us to explore the universe from planets to high-redshift galaxies. On 11 and 12 July 2022, NASA released the early release observation (ERO) data of the JWST, including not only beautiful pictures but also scientific data. The impressive data reveal extraordinary details of the HII region, compact galaxy group, planetary nebular, exoplanet atmosphere, and galaxy clusters, demonstrating the power of the JWST. In this paper, we briefly introduce the first release of the ERO data, and discuss the impact of the JWST on the astronomy. The five datasets released by the JWST ERO are: (1) Carina Nebula, which is a star formation region in the Galaxy including several O type stars, diffuse gas and dust. (2) Stephan’s Quintet, one of the most famous nearby galaxy groups that consist of four interacting galaxies and one foreground galaxy. The ERO data includes the NIRCam and MIRI images and the integral field unit (IFU) spectra data that enable us to study various topics such as the galaxy dynamics, shockwave, metallicity, black hole accretion, and so on. (3) Southern Ring Nebula, which is a nebular ejected by the center star during the late evolution stage. The new data reveal the center old star blocked by the dust. (4) WASP-96 b, which is an exoplanet discovered in 2004. The released data of WASP-96 b are the atmosphere spectrum, in which we can see clear water feature. (5) SMACS 0723, which is a galaxy cluster at redshift 0.4. The released data include the NIRCam, MIRI image, as well as the spectra from NIRSS and NIRSpec. The release of the ERO includes the raw and science-ready data reduced by the default JWST pipeline. Besides the data release, the JWST team also provides the document website to introduce the telescope instruments, the data reduction pipeline, and post-pipeline reduction suggestions, and organizes web seminars since 2021 to help users understand the telescope and data. The open-access of the ERO data has been stimulating astronomers all over the world to explore the universe through this new window. In the first month after the JWST data release, there are about 2–4 new papers submitted from competing groups to preprint website astro-ph. The active studies based on the JWST data would also help the improvement of the pipeline and the configuration of the instrument for the next proposal cycle. In general, with unrivaled data quality, the JWST is opening a new window for astronomers, and helping astronomers explore the new edge of the universe.