The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a large, space-based observatory set to launch in 2021. It is a collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
The JWST is designed to be the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope and will be the most powerful space telescope ever built. It will have a primary mirror that is 6.5 meters in diameter, which is more than two and a half times larger than the Hubble's mirror. This larger mirror will allow the JWST to collect more light and observe fainter objects in the universe.
One of the main goals of the JWST is to study the formation of stars and galaxies in the early universe. It will be able to see back in time to when the first galaxies were forming, providing valuable insights into the origins of our universe. The telescope will also be able to study the atmospheres of exoplanets, potentially detecting signs of life on other planets.
The JWST will operate primarily in the infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum, as this allows it to see through dust clouds and observe objects that are too faint or distant for other telescopes to detect. It will be positioned at a location called the second Lagrange point (L2), which is about 1.5 million kilometers from Earth. This location will provide a stable and unobstructed view of the universe.
The development of the JWST has faced numerous technical and budgetary challenges, leading to delays and cost overruns. However, it is now in the final stages of testing and is scheduled to launch in late 2021. Once operational, the JWST is expected to revolutionize our understanding of the universe and make groundbreaking discoveries in astronomy and astrophysics.