ESA title

The mission

The James Webb Space Telescope (Webb) is the next great space science observatory following Hubble, designed to answer outstanding questions about the Universe and to make breakthrough discoveries in all fields of astronomy. Webb will see farther into our origins: from the formation of stars and planets, to the birth of the first galaxies in the early Universe. Webb is an international partnership between NASA, ESA and CSA. The telescope launched on an Ariane 5 from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana.

The launch

  • Launch date: 25 December 2021
  • Launch location: Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana
  • Launch vehicle: Ariane 5
  • Orbit: Lagrange point 2, 1.5 million km from Earth
Webb
No tricks, just treats (M83 MIRI image)
Science & Exploration

Webb spots clues of black hole at heart of nearby galaxy M83

17/04/2025 4416 views 20 likes
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JADES-GS-z13-1 in the GOODS-S field (NIRCam image)
Science & Exploration

Webb sees galaxy mysteriously clearing fog of early Universe

26/03/2025 3102 views 48 likes
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The Cosmic Tornado / Herbig-Haro 49/50 (Webb telescope image)
Science & Exploration

Webb unmasks true nature of the Cosmic Tornado

24/03/2025 6847 views 59 likes
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HH 30 (MIRI & NIRCam image)
Science & Exploration

Webb investigates a dusty and dynamic disc

04/02/2025 9716 views 56 likes
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NGC 346 (Webb)
Science & Exploration

Planet-forming discs lived longer in early Universe

16/12/2024 4128 views 33 likes
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Galaxy cluster MACS J1423 (NIRCam image)
Science & Exploration

Webb finds primeval star-forming galaxy that is lightweight

11/12/2024 3974 views 50 likes
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Spiderweb Protocluster (NIRCam)
Science & Exploration

Webb finds surprises in Spiderweb protocluster field

04/12/2024 6007 views 54 likes
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Sombrero galaxy (MIRI)
Science & Exploration

Sombrero Galaxy dazzles in new Webb image

25/11/2024 13108 views 101 likes
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Webb and Hubble images overlapping
Science & Exploration

Webb and Hubble examine spooky galaxy pair

31/10/2024 4437 views 59 likes
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NGC 602 (NIRCam and MIRI image)
Science & Exploration

First young brown dwarfs found outside the Milky Way?

23/10/2024 10150 views 99 likes
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Galaxy GS-NDG-9422
Science & Exploration

Webb finds potential missing link to first stars

25/09/2024 3875 views 68 likes
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Exoplanet Epsilon Indi Ab (MIRI image)
Science & Exploration

Webb images new, cold exoplanet 12 light-years away

24/07/2024 13505 views 65 likes
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Vivid Webb portrait of interacting galaxies Pinguin and Egg
Science & Exploration

Vivid Webb portrait of interacting galaxies Penguin and Egg

12/07/2024 6265 views 41 likes
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Science & Exploration

Jupiter’s upper atmosphere surprises astronomers

25/06/2024 9141 views 33 likes
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Science & Exploration

Webb captures star clusters in Cosmic Gems arc

24/06/2024 9537 views 36 likes
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Science & Exploration

Webb snaps first image of aligned jets from newborn stars

20/06/2024 2304 views 10 likes
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Science & Exploration

Webb finds surprising ingredients around young star

06/06/2024 1300 views 7 likes
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ZS7 environment (NIRcam image)
Science & Exploration

Webb detects most distant black hole merger to date

16/05/2024 30337 views 107 likes
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Science & Exploration

Webb hints at atmosphere around rocky exoplanet

08/05/2024 3528 views 26 likes
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Science & Exploration

Webb captures iconic Horsehead Nebula in unprecedented deta…

29/04/2024 206232 views 166 likes
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Science & Exploration

Webb probes galaxy teeming with newborn stars

03/04/2024 1349 views 9 likes
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NGC 5468 – Cepheid host galaxy
Science & Exploration

Webb & Hubble confirm Universe’s expansion rate

11/03/2024 52440 views 75 likes
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Science & Exploration

Webb unlocks secrets of primeval galaxy

04/03/2024 4341 views 35 likes
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Science & Exploration

Webb finds dwarf galaxies reionised the Universe

28/02/2024 10993 views 68 likes
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Science & Exploration

Webb finds clues of neutron star at heart of supernova remn…

22/02/2024 4083 views 34 likes
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Science & Exploration

Webb reveals structure in 19 spiral galaxies

29/01/2024 21036 views 86 likes
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Science & Exploration

Webb: galaxy mergers solve early Universe mystery

18/01/2024 3298 views 18 likes
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Science & Exploration

Webb discovers dusty cat’s tail in Beta Pictoris system

10/01/2024 1281 views 2 likes
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Science & Exploration

Webb rings in the holidays with the ringed planet Uranus

18/12/2023 18937 views 136 likes
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Science & Exploration

Webb identifies tiniest free-floating brown dwarf

13/12/2023 6436 views 82 likes
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Science & Exploration

Researchers stunned by Webb's view of exploded star

11/12/2023 10206 views 180 likes
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Science & Exploration

Webb study reveals rocky planets can form in extreme enviro…

30/11/2023 8117 views 100 likes
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Science & Exploration

Webb reveals new features in heart of the Milky Way

20/11/2023 8073 views 177 likes
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Science & Exploration

Webb sees Crab Nebula in new light

30/10/2023 10844 views 146 likes
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Kilonova and host galaxy (clean)
Science & Exploration

Webb's first detection of heavy element from star merger

25/10/2023 7612 views 108 likes
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Science & Exploration

Webb pinpoints a high-speed jet stream on Jupiter

19/10/2023 15080 views 101 likes
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Science & Exploration

Webb’s wide-angle view of the Orion Nebula is released in E…

02/10/2023 147905 views 444 likes
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Europa (NIRCam image)
Science & Exploration

Webb finds carbon source on surface of Jupiter’s moon Europa

21/09/2023 38086 views 169 likes
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Exoplanet K2-18 b (Illustration)
Science & Exploration

Webb discovers methane and carbon dioxide in atmosphere of …

11/09/2023 21919 views 118 likes
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Webb captures detailed beauty of Ring Nebula (NIRCam image)
Science & Exploration

Webb captures detailed beauty of Ring Nebula

21/08/2023 33067 views 225 likes
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Artist’s impression of the PDS 70 system
Science & Exploration

Webb detects water vapour in rocky planet-forming zone

24/07/2023 6598 views 113 likes
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Galaxy JADES-GS-z6 in the GOODS-S field: JADES (NIRCam image)
Science & Exploration

Webb sees carbon-rich dust grains in the first billion year…

19/07/2023 5778 views 91 likes
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Science & Exploration

Webb celebrates first year of science with close-up on the …

12/07/2023 8068 views 170 likes
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The Orion Bar region (NIRCam image)
Science & Exploration

Webb makes first detection of crucial carbon molecule in a …

26/06/2023 24781 views 143 likes
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Science & Exploration

Webb maps surprisingly large plume jetting from Saturn’s mo…

30/05/2023 9112 views 137 likes
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Science & Exploration

Webb finds water, and a new mystery, in rare main-belt comet

15/05/2023 10587 views 132 likes
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Science & Exploration

Webb looks for Fomalhaut’s asteroid belt and finds much more

08/05/2023 15182 views 126 likes
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Zoomed-in image of Uranus
Science & Exploration

Webb scores another ringed world with new image of Uranus

06/04/2023 27873 views 148 likes
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Rocky exoplanet TRAPPIST-1 b (illustration)
Science & Exploration

Webb measures the temperature of a rocky exoplanet

27/03/2023 13073 views 96 likes
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Wolf-Rayet 124 (NIRCam and MIRI composite image)
Science & Exploration

Webb captures rarely seen prelude to a supernova

14/03/2023 19631 views 213 likes
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