James Webb Space Telescope: A New Era of Astronomy

  1. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) launched on December 25, 2021.
  2. It orbits the Sun at the L2 Lagrange point, about 1 million miles from Earth.
  3. Webb’s 21-foot gold-coated mirror is the largest ever sent into space.
  4. It observes mainly in infrared light, revealing hidden cosmic structures.
  5. JWST looks back over 13.5 billion years to study the first galaxies.
  6. It can analyze exoplanet atmospheres for signs of habitability.
  7. A tennis court–sized sunshield keeps its instruments at ultra-cold temperatures.
  8. Webb has already revealed galaxies forming less than 400 million years after the Big Bang.
  9. It is a collaboration between NASA, ESA, and CSA.
  10. JWST is revolutionizing astronomy, offering the clearest view of the universe’s origins.