Learn More About the James Webb Space Telescope

On December 25, 2021, an Ariane 5 rocket took off from the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana carrying the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). The JWST is the culmination of coordinated efforts from agencies and countries around the globe, including NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Canadian Space Agency. Named after James E. Webb, who oversaw NASA’s flagship Apollo and Gemini missions in the 1960s, the JWST succeeds the Hubble Space Telescope as NASA’s premiere telescope for astrophysical research into the formation of the first stars and galaxies in our universe.

To help you learn more about the JWST, its mission, and what it has accomplished so far, we’ve put together an update on its status and answered some frequently asked questions.

What Is the James Webb Space Telescope?

For optical astronomy, space telescopes are superior to observatories on Earth as they do not have to deal with light pollution or what astronomers call twinkling– electromagnetic distortion caused by the Earth’s atmosphere. Since 1985, space agencies have launched eight space telescopes and the differences between them involve both improvements in technology and specific mission goals.

The JWST has four primary mission goals.

· To detect light from the first stars and galaxies that formed after the Big Bang

· To capture images of galaxy formation and evolution

· To capture images of star and planet formation

· To help astronomers and astrophysicists understand planetary systems and the possible origins of life

Because its mission focuses on formative events that happened very early in the history of the universe, the JWST does not detect light from visible or ultraviolet spectrums. Rather, it specializes in deep infrared astronomy, as the oldest light traversing the universe has extended in wavelength – red-shifted – far into the infrared spectrum.

What Is the Current Status of the James Webb Telescope and What Has It Found So Far?

The JWST program made images available to the public for the first time on July 12, this year. The images included a mix of near and far objects, notably the Cosmic Cliffs of the Carina Nebula and an image titled Webb’s First Deep Field which captures galaxies as old as 13.1 billion years– a throwback of nearly 95% of the universe’s 13.8 billion year history.

Image Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webb%27s_First_Deep_Field

Alt-Text: “Webb’s First Deep Field.”

Unlike its predecessor Hubble, the JWST does not orbit the Earth. Rather, it orbits the sun at an average distance of 1 million miles from Earth and about 930,000 miles further from the sun than that of the Earth. In this orbital pattern, the JWST benefits from both better visibility than geocentric orbits and short relay times, as it never strays much further than its average distance.

6 Frequently Asked Questions About the James Webb Space Telescope

Here we’ve tried to answer some of the more frequently asked questions about the JWST.

1. How Far Will the James Webb Telescope See?

Because the speed of light is finite, distance and time, for astrophysicists, are effective measurements of the same thing. The further away an object is in the universe, the older what you’re seeing is. By current estimates, the JWST will be able to see objects so distant that their age will likely date back to just 100 million years after the Big Bang.

2. Where Was the James Webb Space Telescope Built?

The JWST was built in Noordwijk, Netherlands.

3. How Long Did It Take To Build the James Webb Telescope?

From design to launch, the JWST took 30 years to build.

4. Why Is It Called the James Webb Space Telescope?

The JWST is named after James E. Webb who was the administrator of NASA in the 1960s.

5. What Is the Difference Between the Hubble Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope?

The primary difference between the Hubble Telescope and the JWST involves what kind of light they’re designed to see. The Hubble specializes in detecting light in the visible and ultraviolet range, while the JWST focuses on infrared light.

6. How Far Back in Time Can the James Webb Telescope See?

By current estimates, the JWST will be able to capture images of the universe at 5% of its current age of 13.8 billion years, allowing scientists to see older and more primordial depictions of the universe than we ever have before.