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
Science & Exploration

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

15/05/2023 10684 views 132 likes
Read
Science & Exploration

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

08/05/2023 15221 views 126 likes
Read
Zoomed-in image of Uranus
Science & Exploration

Webb scores another ringed world with new image of Uranus

06/04/2023 28282 views 149 likes
Read
Rocky exoplanet TRAPPIST-1 b (illustration)
Science & Exploration

Webb measures the temperature of a rocky exoplanet

27/03/2023 13230 views 96 likes
Read
Wolf-Rayet 124 (NIRCam and MIRI composite image)
Science & Exploration

Webb captures rarely seen prelude to a supernova

14/03/2023 19762 views 213 likes
Read
Science & Exploration

Webb reveals intricate networks of gas and dust in nearby g…

16/02/2023 7145 views 105 likes
Read
Science & Exploration

Webb detects extremely small main-belt asteroid

06/02/2023 12742 views 125 likes
Read
Science & Exploration

Webb unveils dark side of pre-stellar ice chemistry

23/01/2023 7978 views 88 likes
Read
Science & Exploration

Webb confirms its first exoplanet

11/01/2023 47370 views 274 likes
Read
Webb liftoff on Ariane 5, 25 December 2021
Science & Exploration

One year ago, a perfect launch for the James Webb Space Tel…

19/12/2022 14175 views 97 likes
Read
Artist impression of WASP-39 b and its star
Science & Exploration

Webb reveals an exoplanet atmosphere as never seen before

24/11/2022 14929 views 169 likes
Read
Tarantula Nebula – NIRSpec IFU
Science & Exploration

How Webb's NIRSpec instrument opened up 200 windows to our …

18/11/2022 9485 views 99 likes
Read
Science & Exploration

Webb catches fiery hourglass as new star forms

16/11/2022 10109 views 120 likes
Read
Science & Exploration

How MIRI became Webb’s coolest instrument

08/11/2022 12431 views 120 likes
Read
Science & Exploration

Haunting portrait: Webb reveals dust and structure in Pilla…

28/10/2022 33855 views 195 likes
Read
Webb's view around the extremely red quasar SDSS J165202.64+172852.3
Science & Exploration

Webb uncovers dense cosmic knot in the early Universe

20/10/2022 9329 views 123 likes
Read
Webb's portrait of the Pillars of Creation (NIRCam)
Science & Exploration

Webb takes a stunning, star-filled portrait of the Pillars …

19/10/2022 31669 views 195 likes
Read
Science & Exploration

Webb and Hubble capture detailed views of DART impact

29/09/2022 12961 views 116 likes
Read
Neptune close-up (NIRCam Image)
Science & Exploration

New Webb image captures clearest view of Neptune’s rings in…

21/09/2022 46673 views 363 likes
Read
MIRI integration into JWST payload module
Science & Exploration

Webb's Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI) operations update

20/09/2022 34213 views 145 likes
Read
Science & Exploration

Mars is mighty in first Webb observations of Red Planet

19/09/2022 41036 views 216 likes
Read
Tarantula Nebula – NIRCam
Science & Exploration

Webb captures a cosmic tarantula

06/09/2022 28468 views 208 likes
Read
Heart of the Phantom Galaxy
Science & Exploration

Webb inspects the heart of the Phantom Galaxy

29/08/2022 224455 views 1487 likes
Read
Artist impression of WASP-39 b and its star
Science & Exploration

Webb detects carbon dioxide in exoplanet atmosphere

25/08/2022 8820 views 118 likes
Read
Cartwheel Galaxy (NIRCam and MIRI)
Science & Exploration

Webb captures stellar gymnastics in the Cartwheel Galaxy

02/08/2022 22536 views 226 likes
Read
Webb's first images - highlights
Science & Exploration

First images from Webb telescope reveal unseen Universe

12/07/2022 310994 views 328 likes
Read
Cosmic Cliffs in Carina – NIRCam
Science & Exploration

Webb reveals “Cosmic Cliffs” – a glittering landscape of st…

12/07/2022 39870 views 311 likes
Read
Stephan’s Quintet – NIRCam and MIRI imaging
Science & Exploration

Webb sheds light on galaxy evolution, black holes

12/07/2022 28857 views 242 likes
Read
Southern Ring Nebula in near- and mid-infrared light
Science & Exploration

Webb captures dying star’s final ‘performance’ in fine deta…

12/07/2022 31949 views 233 likes
Read
Exoplanet WASP-96 b – NIRISS transmission spectrum
Science & Exploration

Webb reveals steamy atmosphere of distant planet in exquisi…

12/07/2022 16379 views 141 likes
Read
Webb’s first deep field (MIRI and NIRCam)
Science & Exploration

Webb delivers deepest image of Universe yet

12/07/2022 37093 views 213 likes
Read
Webb’s first deep field
Science & Exploration

Webb delivers deepest infrared image of Universe yet in spe…

12/07/2022 38863 views 460 likes
Read
Deployment test of James Webb Space Telescope's primary mirror
Science & Exploration

Cosmic targets for Webb Telescope’s first images announced

08/07/2022 12484 views 124 likes
Read
Science & Exploration

How to see Webb’s new images

05/07/2022 215835 views 146 likes
Read
Science & Exploration

Looking ahead to Webb’s first images

01/06/2022 28650 views 236 likes
Read
MIRI integration into JWST payload module
Science & Exploration

Webb’s coldest instrument reaches operating temperature

13/04/2022 18808 views 97 likes
Read
Webb reaches alignment milestone: image of focused star
Science & Exploration

Webb reaches alignment milestone

16/03/2022 22133 views 338 likes
Read
Gaia snaps photo of Webb
Science & Exploration

Gaia snaps photo of Webb at L2

16/03/2022 31733 views 140 likes
Read
Science & Exploration

Photons received: Webb sees its first star – 18 times

11/02/2022 22382 views 266 likes
Read
Agency

Join Webb Quest: Mind-blowing mission to the early Universe

27/01/2022 16037 views 156 likes
Read
Science & Exploration

Webb has arrived at L2

24/01/2022 14720 views 331 likes
Read
Webb cartoon
Agency

Join ESA’s Pixel your Webb challenge now!

24/01/2022 2694 views 7 likes
Read
Deployment test of James Webb Space Telescope's primary mirror
Agency

Join ESA’s Webb Challenges

17/01/2022 4285 views 41 likes
Read
Announcing the winners of Webb contests
Science & Exploration

Announcing the winners of Webb contests

10/01/2022 2542 views 9 likes
Read
Deployment test of James Webb Space Telescope's primary mirror
Science & Exploration

Webb deployment complete

08/01/2022 27142 views 297 likes
Read
Science & Exploration

Webb sunshield fully deployed

05/01/2022 11783 views 231 likes
Read
Science & Exploration

Precise Ariane 5 launch likely to extend Webb's expected li…

29/12/2021 27913 views 393 likes
Read
Webb liftoff on Ariane 5, 25 December 2021
Science & Exploration

Webb liftoff on Ariane 5 to unlock secrets of the Universe

25/12/2021 38457 views 147 likes
Read
Science & Exploration

Liftoff in images: Webb on Ariane 5

25/12/2021 7978 views 233 likes
Read
Science & Exploration

Webb on Ariane 5 roll-out to the launch pad

23/12/2021 9680 views 205 likes
Read
< 1 2 3 >