The JWST Discoveries

The James Webb Space Telescope, or JWST, is the most powerful space telescope ever built. It launched in December 2021 and began sending back pictures in 2022. The images it takes are stunning and have already changed what we know about the universe. JWST can see things no other telescope has ever seen.

What JWST Has Found

JWST has taken pictures of the oldest and most distant galaxies ever seen. Some of these galaxies formed less than 400 million years after the Big Bang. It has found details in nebulae where new stars are being born. JWST has also studied the atmospheres of planets around other stars, looking for signs that could mean life is possible.

Why JWST Is Special

JWST sees in infrared light, which is a type of light our eyes cannot see. This lets it look through clouds of dust that block visible light. Its mirror is over 21 feet wide, much larger than the Hubble Space Telescope's mirror. JWST orbits the Sun about a million miles from Earth, where it stays very cold to work properly.

Fun Facts

• JWST's mirror is made of 18 hexagonal pieces coated in a thin layer of gold.
• JWST has a sunshield the size of a tennis court that keeps it extremely cold.
• The telescope took over 20 years and 10 billion dollars to build.

Did You Know?

JWST found galaxies that are so old, their light has been traveling for over 13 billion years to reach us. We are seeing them as they looked when the universe was very young.