The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) holds the title as the biggest, most potent space telescope so far. This infrared observatory, operated by NASA, took off on Dec 25, 2021. The launch happened at ESA’s Kourou site, located in French Guiana. The vehicle used for this mission was the Arianespace Ariane 5 rocket.
Key Facts
The James Webb Telescope is a global initiative involving NASA, ESA, and the Canadian Space Agency. It includes contributions from over 300 entities across 29 U.S. states and 14 countries.
Costing $10 billion, the telescope explores the universe’s history, from the Big Bang to the formation of exoplanets.
This device belongs to NASA’s Great Observatories group, which also includes the Hubble Space Telescope.
After a 30-day journey, the JWST reached its destination, Lagrange point 2 (L2), a stable gravitational point in space, on January 24, 2022.
L2, situated near Earth and opposite the sun, enables the telescope to maintain alignment with Earth’s sun orbit. This location is also home to other telescopes like the Herschel Space Telescope and the Planck Space Observatory.
According to NASA, the James Webb Space Telescope will focus on four main areas: the first light in the universe, the assembly of galaxies in the early universe, the birth of stars and protoplanetary systems, and planets (including the origins of life.)
Similar to the Hubble Space Telescope, the JWST is capturing stunning images of celestial bodies.
Capabilities Of James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)
- The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) boasts a host of innovative capabilities that set it apart from its astronomical peers. One of its most distinctive features is the 6.5-meter primary mirror, significantly larger than Hubble’s, providing an unprecedented level of resolution and sensitivity.
- The telescope is also equipped with a unique set of four highly sophisticated instruments, including cameras and spectrometers, capable of observing in the infrared spectrum. This enables the JWST to peer through dusty clouds in space, revealing previously unseen star formations and galaxies.
- Additionally, the JWST possesses a mid-infrared instrument (MIRI) that provides impressive imaging, spectroscopy, and coronagraphy capabilities. This tool allows scientists to study distant objects in greater detail, helping us understand phenomena such as the formation of distant stars and the potential for life on exoplanets.
- The highly advanced Near Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) in JWST can observe up to 100 objects simultaneously, enabling comprehensive coverage of space and time-efficient data collection. The capabilities of JWST, thus, promise a new era in our understanding and exploration of the universe.
How Does The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Work?
- The main task of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is to capture and focus light, similar to other telescopes.
- Unlike human eyes that see visible light, the JWST perceives infrared or “heat” – akin to a night-vision security camera.
- The size of the JWST is significant, enabling it to capture more light and see distant, smaller, and colder objects.
- Being stationed in space is an advantage for the JWST, as it doesn’t have to look through the atmosphere, which often blocks valuable data.
Vision Range Of The James Webb Space Telescope
- The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) can “see” into the farthest reaches of the universe.
- Objects move away from us at a higher speed the further they are.
- This movement results in a phenomenon known as redshift, making objects appear redder.
- At extreme distances, objects shift beyond red into the infrared spectrum.
- This is why the JWST, with its infrared capabilities, can observe farther than previous telescopes.
- Light from distant objects takes time to reach us, making these objects appear older to us.
- Telescopes like the Hubble and the JWST effectively look back in time.
- The JWST can observe further back in time than the Hubble, almost to the universe’s inception 13.7 billion years ago, thanks to its infrared vision.