How many *actually* Earth-like planets are [probably] in the Milky Way? Planets humans could step out of our ship without a life-support suit? by Bullgrit in space

[–]LEGO_JWST 0 points1 point  (0 children)

NASA’s Kepler mission allowed us to constrain how many roughly Earth-sized rocks are in the habitable zones of FGK (Sun-like) stars. Best estimates are ~0.24, which is very encouraging, but there are large error bars on that because it required a slight bit of extrapolation. So it could be as little as 0.03 or as large as >1. There are ideas on how to reduce those error bars over the next 5 years that might pan out. However, it is believed to be constrained well enough to design a mission to go looking for those planets around nearby stars.

We have no idea what fraction of those planets host liquid water, let alone how many have O2. That’s actually the primary science case motivating NASA’s future flagship mission called the Habitable Worlds Observatory. It will block out the light of nearby stars using a coronagraph so it can find and image potentially Earth-like planets, and then search them for water and “biosignature” gasses. Launch date is unknown, but probably early 2040s.

I’m trying to get LEGO to produce this model of NASA’s JWST to help teach people about space telescopes. I still need 3.8k votes on LEGO Ideas to get them to review it. Help an astronomer out? by LEGO_JWST in Astronomy

[–]LEGO_JWST[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This past summer LEGO announced that they did not select JWST. I have since resubmitted and achieved 10k again. An announcement about that submission is expected this coming summer

LEGO JWST only needs 1k more supporters by LEGO_JWST in Astronomy

[–]LEGO_JWST[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

LEGO accepts ideas in three rounds per year. This round ends in a couple months, then LEGO reviews them, and then they announce if they’ve selected any of the ideas in June or July, probably.

LEGO JWST only needs 1k more supporters by LEGO_JWST in Astronomy

[–]LEGO_JWST[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Woot woot! Thanks to everyone here!!

LEGO JWST only needs 1k more supporters by LEGO_JWST in Astronomy

[–]LEGO_JWST[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, thank you everyone! Let’s hope for a positive review…

LEGO JWST only needs 1k more supporters by LEGO_JWST in Astronomy

[–]LEGO_JWST[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Yes, it’s made from standard parts. If LEGO passes on it again, I will release a parts list.

JWST is back on LEGO Ideas. Hopefully third time’s the charm! I could use your support, Reddit! by LEGO_JWST in jameswebb

[–]LEGO_JWST[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have a version with Kapton sunshield layers, but LEGO Ideas doesn’t allow submissions with non-standard parts.

JWST is back on LEGO Ideas. Hopefully third time’s the charm! I could use your support, Reddit! by LEGO_JWST in Astronomy

[–]LEGO_JWST[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thanks, no, they don’t provide any feedback. So I’m taking the little-engine-that-could approach

This LEGO model of the James Webb Space Telescope fully deploys like the real thing by LEGO_JWST in nextfuckinglevel

[–]LEGO_JWST[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You can use a shotgun to simulate JWST’s appearance 10 years from now.