deep field

[ deep feeld ]

noun

, Astronomy.

1. a composite image of far distant objects in space, compiled from multiple exposures capturing blue, red, and infrared light, with the wavelength of each contributing data points by which the distance and age of a cosmic object can be calculated (often used attributively): The most recent deep field images could help astronomers understand the chemistry of the early universe.

   The James Webb Space Telescope can capture deep fields far more distant than Hubble ever could.

   The most recent deep field images could help astronomers understand the chemistry of the early universe.

Word History and Origins

Origin of deep field¹

First recorded in 1870–75 as a term in cricket; as an astronomical term in 1995–2000

Example Sentences

I love a deep field image that shows the most distant galaxy cluster we've ever seen.

From Salon

When he dashed away from a deep field to win the 10,000 meters on a dirt track in the 1964 Tokyo Games, Mills became the first American to win a gold medal in the longest track event in the Olympics.

From Los Angeles Times

“I think it’s going to be an exceptionally deep field. It will be a big field, but it’ll be exceptionally deep is my projection at this point in time.”

From Seattle Times

The two galaxies were among 60,000 sources of light in Pandora's Cluster detected in one of JWST's first deep field images taken during 2022, its first year of science operations.

From Science Daily

Following up on a deep field image of the area, an international team led by Penn State researchers confirmed the distance of these ancient galaxies and inferred their properties using new spectroscopic data -- information about light emitted across the electromagnetic spectrum -- from JWST.

From Science Daily