WTH is the JWST?

JWST stands for the James Webb Space Telescope which is an infrared telescope designed to succeed the Hubble Space Telescope. It was named after James E. Webb who was a NASA administrator from 1961-1968. The new technology that makes up the JWST allows for greater distances to be observed due to its large mirror and ability to capture incredibly faint sources of light. There are four instruments on the JWST that will be able to collect wavelengths spanning from 0.6 to 28 micrometers. This exceeds the Hubble Space Telescope’s capabilities which was limited to 0.8 to 2.5 micrometers. The goal of the JWST is essentially to collect light from the past by looking deep into space so that we may begin to have a better understanding of the formation of the universe.