July 13, 2022 Weekly Update
Earlier this week, NASA released the first images from the brand new James Webb Space Telescope. The telescope replaces the famous Hubble Space Telescope. The telescope is located in space in order to take clear images beyond the distortions of our earth’s atmosphere and radiation.
The images have captured my attention, and the attention of many. Not only is this a worldwide story, but it’s finally some positive news amidst tragic mass shootings, war, climate change, inflation, and challenging gas prices.
The image above is of the famous “Cosmic Cliffs,” a ‘landscape of “mountains” and “valleys” speckled with glittering stars at the edge of a nearby, young, star-forming region called NGC 3324 in the Carina Nebula.’ The telescope uses infrared light to capture previously invisible areas where stars are ‘born.’ These cliffs are approximately 7,600 light years away from earth. The peaks toward the top are 7 light years away from the gaseous cavity toward the middle of the image. 7 light years is roughly 42 trillion miles!
As Christians, these images reveal the true beauty of the universe, a masterpiece we believe was created by our Creator. It calls to mind the Psalmist’s reflections in Psalm 8: 3-4:
3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars that you have established;
4 what are humans that you are mindful of them,
mortals[a] that you care for them?
I hope this image inspires you today, and reminds you of God’s unlimited light and love. Check out more images at https://www.nasa.gov/webbfirstimages.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Jared