James Webb Space Telescope

This illustration shows NASA's James Webb Space Telescope in shades of blue. Its base is made up of multiple different layers in an elongated shape. On top of the base sits the observatory's primary mirror which is a large hexagonal shape made up of smaller hexagons. Two rods at the base and one at the top protrude forward and all connect to a small disc, shaped object.
An illustration of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope. The colors depicted in this illustration are for artistic purposes only.
NASA
February 23, 2024
CreditNASA
Historical DateDecember 20, 2022
Language
  • english

An illustration of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope. The colors depicted in this illustration are for artistic purposes only.

Webb is the largest and most powerful observatory ever launched. It observes the cosmos in infrared using highly sensitive instruments designed to solve mysteries in our solar system, look beyond to distant worlds around other stars, and detect the first galaxies born after the big bang.

Launched: December 25, 2021