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James Webb Space Telescope

Webb is the premier observatory of the next decade, serving thousands of astronomers worldwide. It studies every phase in the history of our Universe.

Active Mission

Webb studies every phase in the history of our Universe, ranging from the first luminous glows after the Big Bang, to the formation of solar systems capable of supporting life on planets like Earth, to the evolution of our own Solar System. Webb launched on Dec. 25th 2021. It does not orbit around the Earth like the Hubble Space Telescope, it orbits the Sun 1.5 million kilometers (1 million miles) away from the Earth at what is called the second Lagrange point or L2. 

Mission Type

Astrophysics

Partners

NASA/ESA/CSA

Launch

Dec 25, 2021

Arrival at L2

Jan 24, 2022

Key Facts

This image is from Webb’s NIRCam instrument, which saw this nebula in the near-infrared.

extending the tantalizing discoveries of the Hubble Space Telescope.

Engineers Prep James Webb Telescope for Integration

So big it has to fold origami-style to fit in the rocket and will unfold like a “Transformer” in space.

Webb Lagrange Points

Webb orbits the Sun 1.5 million kilometers from the Earth. (Hubble orbits 560 kilometers above the Earth.)

NASA’s Webb Sunshield Successfully Unfolds and Tensions in Final Tests

Webb has a 5-layer sunshield that protects the telescope from the infrared radiation of the Sun, Earth, and Moon; like having sun protection of SPF 1 million.

The image shows the galaxy cluster SMACS 0723 as it appeared 4.6 billion years ago

iIt will peer back in time over 13.5 billion years to see the first galaxies born after the Big Bang.in the ISS.

A region of space is filled with stars and clumps of glowing orange and tan dust. A small  portion of the sky at the center of the image is outlined with a white box. Lines extend from the corner of the box to the inset panel at the top right showing a magnified version of the outlined portion of the image. In the inset, there are smatterings of dim whitish-blueish stars and about seven glowing red orbs across the center in a line. Also across the center of the inset is a green glow. The background of the image is filled with stars and galaxies of various shapes and colors.
Images from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope of the dwarf galaxy Sextans A reveal polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), large carbon-based molecules that can be a signifier of star formation. The inset at the top right zooms in on those PAHs, which are represented in green. Seethe article below for details and downloads of all related images in all resolutions.
Image: NASA, ESA, CSA, Elizabeth Tarantino (STScI), Martha Boyer (STScI), Julia Roman-Duval (STScI); Image Processing: Alyssa Pagan (STScI)

Featured Story

NASA Webb Finds Early-Universe Analog’s Unexpected Talent for Making Dust

Using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers have spotted two rare kinds of dust in the dwarf galaxy Sextans A,…

Read the Story
James Webb Space Telescope image showing a broad area of space with many small galaxies, four of which are highlighted in pull-out boxes. The four highlighted galaxies are very small, appearing as points of light. Black areas of the overall image indicate where the telescope did not collect data – a vertical section in the center and a square in the lower left corner.
Four of the nine galaxies in the newly identified “platypus” sample were discovered in NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope’s Cosmic Evolution Early Release Science Survey (CEERS). One key feature that makes them distinct is their point-like appearance. See the article below for details and downloads of all related images in all resolutions.
Image: NASA, ESA, CSA, Steve Finkelstein (UT Austin); Image Processing: Alyssa Pagan (STScI)
Featured Story

Scientists Identify ‘Astronomy’s Platypus’ with NASA’s Webb Telescope

After combing through NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope’s archive of sweeping extragalactic cosmic fields, a small team of astronomers at…

Read the Story

Latest News

The feed below is a mix of Webb Science Releases and associated images/videos, Webb Science Blogs, Webb press releases and articles tagged with "James Webb Space Telescope". To filter out everything except the Webb Science Releases (or Science Blogs) - simply select that filter check box. Webb Science Releases, images, videos and Webb's Science Blogs can also be filtered by Webb's four primary science themes.

Filter, Search and Sort Notes: Initial filtered results displayed below show all articles that match ANY of the filters for all dates. Once one or more filter options are checked , only articles that MATCH ANY (logical OR) of the checked filters are displayed within the date range selected. The MATCH ALL (logical AND) filter operator will reduce the matching set to only those articles that match ALL checked filters within the date range. The "Search Latest Content" box searches for the terms entered within the subset of filtered articles. You can also sort the results by date in descending (newest first) or ascending (oldest first).

Filters

Choose filter logic

Date Range

Scientists Identify ‘Astronomy’s Platypus’ with NASA’s Webb Telescope

After combing through NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope’s archive of sweeping extragalactic cosmic fields, a small team of astronomers at…

Jan 6, 2026
Article
Galaxies in CEERS Field (NIRCam image)

Four of the nine galaxies in the newly identified “platypus” sample were discovered in NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope’s Cosmic…

Jan 6, 2026
Image
Galaxy CEERS 4233-42232: Comparison With Quasar Spectrum  

This graphic illustrates the pronounced narrow peak of the spectra that caught researchers’ attention in a small sample of galaxies,…

Jan 6, 2026
Image
NASA Webb Finds Early-Universe Analog’s Unexpected Talent for Making Dust

Using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers have spotted two rare kinds of dust in the dwarf galaxy Sextans A,…

Jan 6, 2026
Article
Sextans A PAHs Pull-out (NIRCam and MIRI Image)

Images from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope of the dwarf galaxy Sextans A reveal polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), large carbon-based…

Jan 6, 2026
Image
Sextans A Context Image (Webb and KPNO)

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope’s image of a portion of the nearby Sextans A galaxy is put into context using…

Jan 6, 2026
Image
Sextans A PAHs Pull-out (Compass Image)

This image of dwarf galaxy Sextans A, captured by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope’s Near Infrared Camera (NIRCam) and Mid-Infrared…

Jan 6, 2026
Image
Giant Star in Dwarf Galaxy Sextans A (Spectrum)

This graph shows a spectrum of an Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) star in the Sextans A galaxy. It compares data…

Jan 6, 2026
Image
A Dance of Galaxies

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope captured two nearby dwarf galaxies interacting with each other in this image released on Dec.…

Dec 22, 2025
Image Article
NASA’s Webb Observes Exoplanet Whose Composition Defies Explanation

Scientists using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope have observed a rare type of exoplanet, or planet outside our solar system,…

Dec 16, 2025
Article
Exoplanet PSR J2322-2650b and Pulsar (Artist’s Concept)

This artist’s concept shows what the exoplanet called PSR J2322-2650b (left) may look like as it orbits a rapidly spinning…

Dec 16, 2025
Image
Exoplanet PSR J2322-2650b (Artist’s Concept)

This artist’s concept shows what the exoplanet PSR J2322-2650b may look like. Gravitational forces from the much heavier pulsar it…

Dec 16, 2025
Image
Exoplanet PSR J2322-2650b Orbiting a Pulsar

This animation shows an exotic exoplanet orbiting a distant pulsar, or rapidly rotating neutron star with radio pulses. The planet,…

Dec 16, 2025
Video
NASA’s Webb, Curiosity Named in TIME’s Best Inventions Hall of Fame

Two icons of discovery, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope and NASA’s Curiosity rover, have earned places in TIME’s “Best Inventions…

Dec 12, 2025
Article
Pismis 24 Mini Poster

Download and print a mini poster featuring an image of Pismis 24 captured in 2025 by NASA's James Webb Space…

Dec 11, 2025
Image

Webb's Blog

Webb's Blog offers an insider's point of view covering a variety of topics. The feed below supports a deeper dive into Webb's Blog which contains early release science (not yet peer reviewed) as well as Webb Mission Operations and Webb Engineering posts - you can filter on any/all of these post types as well as filter Webb Science Blogs by Webb's four primary science themes.

Filter, Search and Sort Notes: Initial filtered results displayed below show all articles that match ANY of the filters for all dates. Once one or more filter options are checked , only articles that MATCH ANY (logical OR) of the checked filters are displayed within the date range selected. The MATCH ALL (logical AND) filter operator will reduce the matching set to only those articles that match ALL checked filters within the date range. The "Search Latest Content" box searches for the terms entered within the subset of filtered articles. You can also sort the results by date in descending (newest first) or ascending (oldest first).

Filters

Choose filter logic

Date Range

NASA’s Webb Space Telescope Observes Interstellar Comet

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope observed interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS Aug. 6, with its Near-Infrared Spectrograph instrument. The research team has…

Aug 25, 2025
Blog
New Moon Discovered Orbiting Uranus Using NASA’s Webb Telescope

Editor’s Note: This post highlights data from Webb science in progress, which has not yet been through the peer-review process.…

Aug 19, 2025
Blog
NASA’s Webb Finds Possible ‘Direct Collapse’ Black Hole

Editor’s Note: This post highlights a combination of peer-reviewed results and data from Webb science in progress, which has not…

Jul 15, 2025
Blog
NASA’s Webb Observations Update Asteroid 2024 YR4’s Lunar Impact Odds

While asteroid 2024 YR4 is currently too distant to detect with telescopes from Earth, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope collected one…

Jun 5, 2025
Blog
How NASA’s Webb Telescope Supports Our Search for Life Beyond Earth

This artist’s concept shows what exoplanet K2-18 b could look like based on science data. K2-18 b, an exoplanet 8.6…

Apr 18, 2025
Blog
NASA’s Webb Finds Asteroid 2024 YR4 Is Building-Sized

Editor’s Note: This post highlights data from Webb science in progress, which has not yet been through the peer-review process. These…

Apr 2, 2025
Blog
NASA’s Webb Reveals the Ancient Surfaces of Trans-Neptunian Objects

Trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) are icy bodies ranging in size from Pluto and Eris (dwarf planets with diameters of about 1,500…

Feb 12, 2025
Blog
Monitoring Webb’s Mirrors for Optimal Optics

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is the largest and most powerful telescope ever launched to space. Its mirror is composed…

Nov 8, 2024
Blog
Webb Researchers Discover Lensed Supernova, Confirm Hubble Tension

Editor’s Note: This post highlights data from Webb science in progress, which has not yet been through the peer-review process. Measuring…

Oct 1, 2024
Blog
Reconnaissance of Potentially Habitable Worlds with NASA’s Webb

Exoplanets are common in our galaxy, and some even orbit in the so-called habitable zone of their star. NASA’s James…

Jun 5, 2024
Blog
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope Finds Most Distant Known Galaxy

Editor’s Note: This post highlights data from Webb science in progress, which has not yet been through the peer-review process.…

May 30, 2024
Blog
NASA’s Webb Makes the Distant Universe Dream Come True

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope is delivering on its promise to explore the farthest reaches of the universe, looking back…

Apr 18, 2024
Blog
Supernova Encore: NASA’s Webb Spots a Second Lensed Supernova in a Distant Galaxy

Editor's Note: This post highlights data from Webb science in progress, which has not yet been through the peer-review process.…

Dec 21, 2023
Blog
Measuring the Distances to Galaxies With Space Telescopes

One of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope's science goals is to understand how galaxies in the early universe formed and…

Dec 6, 2023
Blog
NASA’s Webb Identifies Methane In an Exoplanet’s Atmosphere

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope observed the exoplanet WASP-80 b as it passed in front of and behind its host…

Nov 22, 2023
Blog


Latest 2025 Images

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Dwarf stars in a glittering sky

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