Talk Intro:

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Title: Unlocking the mysteries of the Universe with JWST

JWST, one of the most powerful telescopes ever built, was launched into its orbit on Christmas day last year. It has started capturing spectacular images that will unlock the mysteries of the Universe. I will show the first images obtained by JWST, discuss their astrophysical importance, and share the excitement they have caused. I will also discuss the major science questions that JWST will address and what to expect in the coming months and years.

Short Bio:

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Manoj Puravankara is an Associate Professor in the Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai. He studies how stars and planets form and evolve to become mature planetary systems like the Solar System. He is part of an international team that will use JWST to study the formation of stars and planetary systems. In addition to his science interests, he is also actively involved in building infrared instruments for ground- and space-based telescopes in India.