The James Webb Space Telescope, or JWST, is NASA's most advanced space observatory. It's an infrared telescope designed to study the early universe, star formation, and exoplanet atmospheres. As Hubble's successor, it represents a major leap forward in our ability to explore the cosmos.
Webb's most distinctive feature is its massive primary mirror, measuring six point five meters across and composed of eighteen hexagonal segments made of gold-plated beryllium. This mirror is one hundred times more powerful than Hubble's, allowing Webb to observe infrared light and peer back thirteen point five billion years into the universe's history. The telescope operates at extremely cold temperatures of minus two hundred twenty-three degrees Celsius.
Webb operates from Lagrange Point L2, located one point five million kilometers from Earth. This gravitationally stable position keeps the telescope aligned with the Sun-Earth line, providing constant cold temperatures and an unobstructed view of deep space. The location requires minimal fuel for station-keeping while protecting Webb from Earth's heat radiation.
Webb has revolutionized our understanding of the universe by discovering the first galaxies that formed just four hundred million years after the Big Bang. It provides detailed analysis of exoplanet atmospheres and captures star formation in unprecedented detail. Webb's research focuses on early universe evolution, galaxy formation, stellar lifecycles, and the search for potentially habitable worlds.
To summarize what we've learned about the Webb telescope: It represents humanity's most advanced tool for exploring the infrared universe, featuring revolutionary technology that allows us to peer deeper into space and time than ever before. Webb's discoveries are fundamentally changing our understanding of how the universe evolved from its earliest moments to the present day.