How Do We Use Spectroscopy to Search for Life?

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has several powerful scientific instruments, called spectrographs, on board. With these, scientists can look at newly forming planetary systems and identify the unique signatures of molecules in space.

Production Details

All images, illustrations, and videos courtesy of NASA and STScI except:

• Webb telescope animation courtesy of NASA, SkyWorks Digital, Northrop Grumman, STScI 

The science operations for NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, developed in partnership with the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency are conducted by AURA’s Space Telescope Science Institute.

Many thanks to Greg Bacon, John Godfrey, Hussein Jirdeh, Jason Kalirai, Brandon Lawton, Alexandra Lockwood, Marc Lussier, Charlie McWade, Bonnie Meinke, Joseph Olmsted, Roy Renza, Denise Smith, and Frank Summers.