It was the $10bn gift to the world. A machine that would show us our place in the Universe.
The James Webb Space Telescope was launched exactly a year ago, on Christmas Day. It had taken three decades to plan, design and build.
Many wondered whether this successor to the famed Hubble Space Telescope could actually live up to expectations.adidas 3st.003 férfi deszkás cipő fehér kék zapatos adidas altos para mujer porte manteau canac adidas 3st.003 férfi deszkás cipő fehér kék legging nike rose nike ads 2018 korkea vyötäröiset housut vaude bagage scarpe guardiani uomo outlet geox spaccio online legging nike rose giga sport amazon ceinture pour le dos ανταλλακτικα πλυντηριο ρουχων πιτσος doudoune ultra légère homme
We had to wait a few months while its epic 6.5m primary mirror was unpacked and focused, and its other systems tested and calibrated.
But, yes, it was everything they said it would be. The American, European and Canadian space agencies held a party in July to release the first colour images. What you see on this page are some of the pictures subsequently published that you may have missed.
James Webb is opening up the infrared Universe
Drag button for views of the Eagle Nebula, 6,500 light years from Earth
The first thing you have to remember about James Webb is that it is an infrared telescope. It sees the sky at wavelengths of light that are beyond what our eyes are able to discern.
Astronomers use its different cameras to explore regions of the cosmos, such as these great towers of gas and dust. The Pillars were a favourite target of Hubble. It would take you several years travelling at the speed of light to traverse this entire scene.
Carina Nebula
They call this scene the Cosmic Cliffs. It’s the edge of a gigantic, gaseous cavity within another dusty, star-forming nebula, known as Carina.
The cavity has been sculpted by the intense ultraviolet radiation and winds from hot, young stars just out of shot.
From one side of this image to the other is a distance of roughly 15 light years. One light year is equal to about 9.46 trillion km (5.88 trillion miles). BBC