10 Fascinating Facts About James Webb Telescope

Image: nasa.gov

18 March 2025

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is one of the most advanced and powerful space observatories ever built. Here are some fascinating facts about it: 

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1. JWST, named after James E. Webb, the second administrator of NASA, was launched on December 25, 2021. It took about 29 days to reach its final orbit

Image: webbtelescope.org

2. JWST's first images, released in July 2022, revealed breathtaking details of galaxies, nebulae, and distant planets, showcasing the universe in ways we'd never seen before 

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3. JWST's primary mirror is 6.5 meters (21 feet) wide, making it over 2.5 times larger than the Hubble Space Telescope's mirror

Image: webbtelescope.org

4. Unlike Hubble, JWST observes the universe in infrared light, allowing it to study objects and events that are invisible to other telescopes

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5. The telescope can look back in time by observing light that traveled for billions of years. JWST is designed to study the universe's first galaxies

Image: X/@MAstronomers

6. JWST's five-layer sunshield is about the size of a tennis court and protects its instruments from the Sun's heat, keeping them at about -233°C (-388°F) 

Image: nasa.gov


7. It orbits the second Lagrange Point (L2), about 1.5 million kilometeres from Earth. This stable location allows the telescope to keep the Sun, Earth, and Moon behind it

Image: webbtelescope.org

8. One of JWST's key missions is to analyze the atmospheres of exoplanets for signs of habitability and possibly even life 

Image: X/@MAstronomers

9. Initially expected to operate for 10 years, JWST's fuel efficiency during its journey means it could potentially function for over 20 years

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10. The telescope is a global collaboration between NASA, ESA, and CSA, with a total cost of around $10 billion

Image: X/@NASA

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