Hello, followers!

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope mission has been a long time coming, and the anticipation for its launch on Christmas Day is at an all-time high. This next-generation observatory, also known as JWST, has the potential to see further into the Universe than ever before, allowing us to study ancient stars and galaxies while also deepening our understanding of astrophysics. Keep reading for updates on the JWST’s progress and how it is already changing the field of astronomy.

On September 21, 2022, the JWST experienced some instrument trouble due to “increased friction.” As a result, one of the observing modes is currently offline. However, despite this setback, the JWST was still able to capture stunning images of Jupiter, showcasing its faint rings and the Great Red Spot. These are just a taste of the incredible Solar System images that we can expect from the JWST in the future.

On July 12, 2022, the first full-color images from the JWST were released, offering a glimpse into the depths of the Universe. And on July 8, we got a preview of the celestial objects that the JWST will be imaging in all their glory on July 12. The past six months have been a busy time for the JWST as engineers prepared it for science. Unfortunately, the telescope was hit by a larger-than-expected micrometeoroid in January 2022, but NASA assures us that the JWST will still be able to conduct excellent science.

On January 4, 2022, the JWST reached its final orbit in space, marking the end of a month-long journey and the beginning of a new chapter. In December 2021, the complex sunshield needed to control the observatory’s temperature was successfully deployed. And finally, on December 25, 2021, the JWST launched into space at long last. The excitement and anxiety leading up to the launch had been building for decades, and now the JWST is ready to begin its transformative mission.