🪐 James Webb Space Telescope
The most powerful telescope ever built — a window into cosmic origins.
Overview
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) launched in December 2021 and now orbits at Lagrange Point L2, about 1.5 million kilometers from Earth. Built to look deeper into space — and further back in time — than any telescope before it, JWST observes the universe in infrared, revealing phenomena hidden behind dust and distance.
Mission Timeline
- 🛠 1996–2016 — Concept, redesign, and development
- 🚀 Dec 25, 2021 — Launched aboard Ariane 5 rocket
- 🪞 2022 — Mirror alignment and calibration
- 📸 July 2022 — First full-color images released
- ♾ Present — Ongoing deep-space observations
Key Breakthroughs
🌌 Detected some of the earliest galaxies formed after the Big Bang.
🌱 Identified atmospheric chemicals on exoplanets — including water vapor.
🔬 Captured unprecedented detail of stellar nurseries and nebulae.
🧬 Provided clues about early cosmic structure and galaxy evolution.
Iconic Images
🪐 The Cosmic Cliffs — Carina Nebula
🌌 Stephan’s Quintet Galaxies
✨ First JWST Deep Field
Watch & Explore
🔗 JWST Explained — NASA
🔗 How JWST Sees the Universe