To protect it from the intense heat of the Sun and maintain its optimal operating temperature, JWST is equipped with a heat shield about the size of a tennis court, 70 feet by 47 feet. These connect to form a reflective surface that is 21 feet (6.5 meters) in diameter. The boost in observational power of the JWST is thanks to its gold-plated beryllium primary mirror, which is made up of 18 separate hexagonal segments. Its observational power will be so great that it will be able to see objects so distant that they existed at the time of the formation of the first galaxies.īecause viewing objects at cosmic distances is akin to staring back in time, the JWST could even allow cosmologists to observe conditions in the Universe moments after the Big Bang. This is something that will be of particular benefit to planetary scientists examining the atmospheres of exoplanets and for cosmologists observing objects far too distant for Hubble to spot. This means that the telescope will be able to observe the Universe in wider wavelengths of light and at lower frequencies than Hubble. JWST will improve on observations made by the Hubble Space Telescope thanks to its greater electromagnetic wavelength coverage and improved sensitivity. The total mass of the space telescope is around 6,200 kilograms (13,668 pounds), which includes the observatory, materials that will be consumed during its five to 10-year mission, and an adaptor that enables its launch from the Ariane 5 rocket. Lagrange points around Earth, such as L2, make a great point to place satellites because the gravitational forces between our planet and the Sun are balanced here, meaning a satellite can be placed in a desired orbit without needing too many adjustments. The JWST will be positioned in orbit around Earth at an area called the Lagrange point two (L2), located about 93,000 miles (1.5 million kilometers) above the surface of Earth. Stunning Photo of 'Bickering' Triplet of Galaxies Taken by NASA's Telescope. ![]() Hubble Telescope Shut Down as Computer From 1980s Hit With Problems.James Webb Telescope vs Hubble As NASA's Observatory Steps Closer to Launch.
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