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Sciences and Exploration Directorate
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James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a large space observatory that will operate in an orbit some 1 million miles from Earth. JWST will find the first galaxies that formed in the early universe, connecting the Big Bang to our own Milky Way Galaxy. It will also peer through dusty clouds to see stars forming planetary systems, connecting the Milky Way to our own solar System. Webb's instruments are designed to work primarily in the infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum, with some capability in the visible range. The observatory was launched on Dec 25, 2021.

Launch Date

December 2021

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The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a large space observatory that will operate in an orbit some 1 million miles from Earth. JWST will find the first galaxies that formed in the early universe, connecting the Big Bang to our own Milky Way Galaxy. It will also peer through dusty clouds to see stars forming planetary systems, connecting the Milky Way to our own solar System. Webb's instruments are designed to work primarily in the infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum, with some capability in the visible range. The observatory was launched on Dec 25, 2021.

Related Publications

2025. "JWST Reveals Spectral Tracers of Recent Surface Modification on Europa.", The Planetary Science Journal, 6 (5): 125 [10.3847/psj/adcab9] [Journal Article/Letter]

2025. "The atmosphere of Titan in late northern summer from JWST and Keck observations.", Nature Astronomy, [10.1038/s41550-025-02537-3] [Journal Article/Letter]

2024. "Equitable and Inclusive Public Outreach with the James Webb Space Telescope: Combining Art, Science, and Technology.", 53rd International Conference on Environmental Systems, [Full Text] [Proceedings]

2024. "JWST Reveals CO Ice, Concentrated CO2 Deposits, and Evidence for Carbonates Potentially Sourced from Ariel’s Interior.", The Astrophysical Journal Letters, 970 (2): L29 [10.3847/2041-8213/ad566a] [Journal Article/Letter]

2023. "Mid-infrared cross-sections and pseudoline parameters for trans-2-butene (2-C4H8).", Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer, 310 108730 [10.1016/j.jqsrt.2023.108730] [Journal Article/Letter]