2021
LAUNCH YEAR
1.5 MILLION KM
DISTANCE FROM EARTH
6.5 m
PRIMARY MIRROR
INFRARED
MAIN WAVELENGTH RANGE
L2
ORBITAL REGION
~10 YEARS
DESIGNED MISSION LIFE
THE NEXT GENERATION TELESCOPE
The James Webb Space Telescope,
usually called JWST, was launched
on December 25, 2021.
Unlike the Hubble Space Telescope,
Webb primarily observes the universe
in infrared wavelengths.
Its enormous 6.5-meter segmented
primary mirror allows it to collect
far more light than previous space
telescopes.
Webb operates near the second
Sun–Earth Lagrange point, known as
L2, approximately 1.5 million
kilometres from Earth.
From this location, the telescope
can maintain a very cold environment
and observe extremely faint infrared
objects.
JAMES WEBB FEATURES
EARLY UNIVERSE
Webb can observe extremely distant
galaxies whose light has travelled
for more than 13 billion years.
EXOPLANETS
The telescope can analyze the
atmospheres of some exoplanets
and search for chemical signatures.
INFRARED VISION
Infrared observations allow Webb
to see through some cosmic dust
and study objects invisible in
ordinary visible light.
DID YOU KNOW?
Webb's primary mirror is made of
18 gold-coated segments,
working together as one enormous
6.5-meter telescope.
WHY WEBB OBSERVES IN INFRARED
The James Webb Space Telescope is optimized primarily for infrared astronomy. Infrared observations allow Webb to study objects that are cool, hidden by dust or so distant that the expansion of the Universe has shifted much of their light toward longer wavelengths.
This makes Webb especially useful for investigating early galaxies, star-forming regions and planetary systems. Spectroscopy can separate incoming light by wavelength, helping astronomers identify chemical signatures and study the physical conditions of distant astronomical objects.
IMAGE:
NASA / ESA / CSA
JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE
JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE