LogFAQs > #966557167

wpot posted...

If that was there I missed it: that's the sort of thing I was interested in. Would I be able to understand the images without a scientist interpreting for me? Certainly not...but otherwise the pictures alone are kind of underwhelming for me.

The caption explains it about as well as laypeople need. Basically, different atmospheric components refract different wavelengths of light differently. By studying the wavelength composition of the light passing around observed planets, we can make inferences about what their atmospheres consist of, including identifying water vapour. The Webb telescope's improved resolution is more easily able to do that, thanks to being specifically designed to help identify and analyze exoplanets.

BEERandWEED posted...

God gave us all the tools to understanding the Universe within ourselves.

And then we used those tools to build giant space telescopes to let us gather more data to improve our understanding. Unless, of course, you're actually going to suggest that the naked eye is as capable of understanding the workings of the universe as something like this telescope is, which would of course be absurd.