ASTROPHYSICS: THE JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE FROM FIRST LIGHT TO NEW WORLD VIEWS

From 27-29 February 2024, a prestigious workshop on the subject of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) took place at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences (PAS) at the Casina Pio IV in the Vatican. The final statement and summary of the meeting have now been published. The event, which was called "The James Webb Space Telescope: From First Light to New World Views," was co-organised by IAU national member for the Vatican, Brother Guy Consolmagno, and IAU Past President Ewine van Dishoeck, with IAU Interim General Secretary Piero Benvenuti as one of the speakers.

The statement mentions the importance of dark and quiet skies, with a highlight of the work being done by the IAU Centre for the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky from Satellite Constellation Interference (CPS), and the impact it is having with its spirit of cooperation and international teamwork. The project's ultimate goal is to turn best practices into a regulatory framework to be endorsed internationally and adopted by appropriate national agencies.