The James Webb Space Telescope

The James Webb Space Telescope is the biggest telescope ever sent to space. It was launched in December 2021. People call it Webb for short. Webb uses a giant gold-covered mirror to collect light. It can see farther into space than any telescope before it.

A Powerful Eye

Webb sees a type of light called infrared. Our eyes cannot see this light, but Webb can. Infrared light can pass through clouds of dust in space. This lets Webb see baby stars and faraway galaxies. Its mirror is over 21 feet wide.

Amazing Discoveries

Webb has taken some of the clearest space pictures ever. It has shown us galaxies from the early universe. It has studied the air around planets in other solar systems. It has even found clues about how stars and planets form. Scientists hope it will help answer big questions about the universe.

Fun Facts

• Webb sits about one million miles from Earth.
• Its mirror is made of 18 hexagon shapes.
• A giant sunshield the size of a tennis court keeps Webb cold.

Did You Know?

The James Webb Space Telescope is named after a former NASA leader from the 1960s.