Welcome, friend
If you’re reading this, thank YOU. We’re only able to do what we do because of partnerships and collaborations with people like yourself. As a way of showing our gratitude, we send out a custom bag of coffee each year. You may even be drinking said coffee as you read this. Not only is it a chance to work with our pals at East One each year, it’s also a chance to draw attention to something truly amazing. More and more we are being inundated with information — some of it good, most of it bad. All a part of a constant bid for our attention at every waking (or resting) moment.
In the midst of being tossed about in these waves of information, we understandably miss a lot. There’s only so much one person can take in. Most of what you absorb today would lead you to believe we’re living in a late-stage capitalist, apocalyptic hellscape. And while that isn’t entirely untrue, incredible things are still happening! We use this mentality as a framework as we consider a theme. It selfishly gives us a chance to research some good news — amazing news really — and it may give you a chance to learn something new. Everyone wins.
If this is not your first year receiving coffee from us you may have noticed a theme. We’ve gone from the moons of Saturn, to the comet Neowise, and now to the James Webb Space Telescope. It’s pretty clear that we are fans of this universe we’re a part of. But it’s more than that. Taking a moment to consider space and time — particularly on this scale — always gives us perspective. It encourages us to dream about the mysteries of our universe and our place in it. It grounds us in a way that helps us see and appreciate all the wonders of our amazing planet.
About the space telescope
On December 25, 2021 the James Webb Space Telescope left Earth — a massive undertaking that was 25 years in the making. Thanks to this incredible feat of science we will soon be receiving images and data unlike any that have ever existed before. Webb will explore the formation of our universe and its galaxies, the lifecycle of stars, and continue our search for life on other planets.
The iconic feature of the space telescope is its 18 hexagonal mirrors. The mirrors needed to be folded up to be launched into space, and at the start of this year they were successfully deployed. Soon, tiny mechanical motors will adjust the angles of the mirrors in order to achieve a single perfect focus. Roll over the mirrors below and give it a try.
Objective
Achieve a singular perfect focus. Roll over the mirrors until they are all in alignment. Yes, you.
Mirrors out of alignment
18
Effective focal ratio
f/20
Effective focal length
131.4m
A1
A2
A3
A4
A5
A6
B1
B2
B3
B4
B5
B6
C1
C2
C3
C4
C5
C6
And now - the fun part
The impact and significance of this project cannot be understated. More than anything, we hope this sends you down a bit of a rabbit hole. As the James Webb Space Telescope gazes at galaxies that are over 13 billion light years away from us, what do you hope they find?
