The James Webb Space Telescope is the premier space-based observatory for infrared astronomy. Featuring a segmented primary mirror and a tennis-court-sized sunshield, it is designed to observe the most distant galaxies in the early universe, study star formation, and analyze exoplanet atmospheres.
Heard on the job
We booked observation time on JWST to get a high-resolution infrared spectrum of the target exoplanet.
Insider tip
Insiders often just call it Webb.
Also heard as
- Webb
Do not mix it up with
- Hubble: Hubble primarily observes in visible and ultraviolet light, whereas JWST is optimized for infrared.