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
Titan (Webb image - 11 July 2023)
Science & Exploration

Titan forecast: partly cloudy with a chance of methane show…

14/05/2025 2487 views 54 likes
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Close-up observations of auroras on Jupiter (December 2023)
Science & Exploration

Webb reveals new details and mysteries in Jupiter’s aurora

12/05/2025 4100 views 49 likes
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No tricks, just treats (M83 MIRI image)
Science & Exploration

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

17/04/2025 5398 views 24 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 3480 views 48 likes
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The Cosmic Tornado / Herbig-Haro 49/50 (Webb telescope image)
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Webb unmasks true nature of the Cosmic Tornado

24/03/2025 7247 views 59 likes
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HH 30 (MIRI & NIRCam image)
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Webb investigates a dusty and dynamic disc

04/02/2025 10119 views 57 likes
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NGC 346 (Webb)
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Planet-forming discs lived longer in early Universe

16/12/2024 4270 views 33 likes
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Galaxy cluster MACS J1423 (NIRCam image)
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Webb finds primeval star-forming galaxy that is lightweight

11/12/2024 4082 views 51 likes
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Spiderweb Protocluster (NIRCam)
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Webb finds surprises in Spiderweb protocluster field

04/12/2024 6174 views 55 likes
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Sombrero galaxy (MIRI)
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Sombrero Galaxy dazzles in new Webb image

25/11/2024 13454 views 102 likes
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Webb and Hubble images overlapping
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Webb and Hubble examine spooky galaxy pair

31/10/2024 4534 views 59 likes
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NGC 602 (NIRCam and MIRI image)
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First young brown dwarfs found outside the Milky Way?

23/10/2024 10313 views 99 likes
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Galaxy GS-NDG-9422
Science & Exploration

Webb finds potential missing link to first stars

25/09/2024 3923 views 68 likes
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Exoplanet Epsilon Indi Ab (MIRI image)
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Webb images new, cold exoplanet 12 light-years away

24/07/2024 13607 views 65 likes
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Vivid Webb portrait of interacting galaxies Pinguin and Egg
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Vivid Webb portrait of interacting galaxies Penguin and Egg

12/07/2024 6387 views 41 likes
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Science & Exploration

Jupiter’s upper atmosphere surprises astronomers

25/06/2024 9239 views 33 likes
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Science & Exploration

Webb captures star clusters in Cosmic Gems arc

24/06/2024 9654 views 36 likes
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Webb snaps first image of aligned jets from newborn stars

20/06/2024 2328 views 10 likes
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Science & Exploration

Webb finds surprising ingredients around young star

06/06/2024 1335 views 7 likes
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ZS7 environment (NIRcam image)
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Webb detects most distant black hole merger to date

16/05/2024 30643 views 107 likes
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Science & Exploration

Webb hints at atmosphere around rocky exoplanet

08/05/2024 3578 views 26 likes
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Science & Exploration

Webb captures iconic Horsehead Nebula in unprecedented deta…

29/04/2024 206519 views 166 likes
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Science & Exploration

Webb probes galaxy teeming with newborn stars

03/04/2024 1389 views 9 likes
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NGC 5468 – Cepheid host galaxy
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Webb & Hubble confirm Universe’s expansion rate

11/03/2024 53157 views 75 likes
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Science & Exploration

Webb unlocks secrets of primeval galaxy

04/03/2024 4429 views 35 likes
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Science & Exploration

Webb finds dwarf galaxies reionised the Universe

28/02/2024 11115 views 68 likes
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Science & Exploration

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

22/02/2024 4169 views 34 likes
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Science & Exploration

Webb reveals structure in 19 spiral galaxies

29/01/2024 21380 views 86 likes
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Science & Exploration

Webb: galaxy mergers solve early Universe mystery

18/01/2024 3361 views 18 likes
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Science & Exploration

Webb discovers dusty cat’s tail in Beta Pictoris system

10/01/2024 1313 views 2 likes
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Webb rings in the holidays with the ringed planet Uranus

18/12/2023 19038 views 137 likes
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Science & Exploration

Webb identifies tiniest free-floating brown dwarf

13/12/2023 6493 views 82 likes
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Science & Exploration

Researchers stunned by Webb's view of exploded star

11/12/2023 10244 views 180 likes
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Webb study reveals rocky planets can form in extreme enviro…

30/11/2023 8154 views 100 likes
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Webb reveals new features in heart of the Milky Way

20/11/2023 8124 views 177 likes
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Webb sees Crab Nebula in new light

30/10/2023 10998 views 146 likes
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Kilonova and host galaxy (clean)
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Webb's first detection of heavy element from star merger

25/10/2023 7647 views 108 likes
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Science & Exploration

Webb pinpoints a high-speed jet stream on Jupiter

19/10/2023 15138 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 148772 views 444 likes
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Europa (NIRCam image)
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Webb finds carbon source on surface of Jupiter’s moon Europa

21/09/2023 38230 views 169 likes
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Exoplanet K2-18 b (Illustration)
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Webb discovers methane and carbon dioxide in atmosphere of …

11/09/2023 22718 views 118 likes
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Webb captures detailed beauty of Ring Nebula (NIRCam image)
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Webb captures detailed beauty of Ring Nebula

21/08/2023 33411 views 225 likes
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Artist’s impression of the PDS 70 system
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Webb detects water vapour in rocky planet-forming zone

24/07/2023 6620 views 113 likes
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Galaxy JADES-GS-z6 in the GOODS-S field: JADES (NIRCam image)
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Webb sees carbon-rich dust grains in the first billion year…

19/07/2023 5840 views 91 likes
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Science & Exploration

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

12/07/2023 8114 views 170 likes
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The Orion Bar region (NIRCam image)
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Webb makes first detection of crucial carbon molecule in a …

26/06/2023 24822 views 143 likes
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Science & Exploration

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

30/05/2023 9149 views 137 likes
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Science & Exploration

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

15/05/2023 10647 views 132 likes
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Science & Exploration

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

08/05/2023 15210 views 126 likes
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Zoomed-in image of Uranus
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Webb scores another ringed world with new image of Uranus

06/04/2023 28144 views 148 likes
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