What is the James Webb Space Telescope?
Quick Answer
The James Webb Space Telescope is a large infrared space telescope launched in 2021 to study the early universe, stars, and planets. It is the most powerful space observatory ever sent into orbit at infrared wavelengths.
The Full Story
The James Webb Space Telescope, often called JWST or Webb, launched on 25 December 2021 aboard an Ariane 5 rocket. It observes mainly in infrared light, which allows it to see through dust clouds and study very distant galaxies whose light has been stretched by cosmic expansion. Webb’s 6.5-meter primary mirror is made of 18 gold-coated segments and operates near the Sun-Earth L2 point, about 1.5 million kilometers from Earth. It has already produced major results on galaxy formation, exoplanet atmospheres, and star birth.
Key Facts
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"The telescope that sees the universe in infrared"