To observe ultraviolet, x-rays, gamma rays or infrared, astronomers have had to put telescopes outside of Earth’s atmosphere -normally in orbit around the Earth. There are many wavelengths from the electromagnetic spectrum that do not reach Earth because they are absorbed or reflected by the Earth’s atmosphere.
source.image: Jared Owen
Space telescopes have the advantage of being above the blurring effects of the Earth’s atmosphere. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), launched in December 2021, is the most advanced infrared space telescope ever created, revolutionizing our understanding of the universe.
Developed by NASA, ESA, and the Canadian Space Agency, JWST features a 6.5-meter gold-coated mirror and a tennis court-sized sun shield to capture distant galaxies, exoplanets, and stars in unparalleled detail. Positioned 1.5 million kilometers from Earth at Lagrange Point 2, it observes red-shifted light beyond the capabilities of the Hubble Space Telescope, acting as a time machine to explore the early universe.
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After 25 years of development and a $10 billion investment, this groundbreaking telescope is transforming astronomy, revealing stellar nurseries, ancient galaxies, and answering profound questions about the origins of the cosmos.
