Today’s Video of the Day from the European Space Agency describes the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope, which is scheduled to launch this week from French Guiana. It is the largest and most powerful telescope ever sent into space.
The James Webb Space Telescope is designed to view objects that are 10 to 100 times fainter than what Hubble can see. The powerful observatory will be able to look so far into deep space that it will see light from galaxies as they formed 13.7 billion years ago, which is just 100 million years after the universe was born.
Webb will ultimately solve many mysteries about the universe and make breakthrough discoveries in all fields of astronomy. After the telescope is launched in Kourou, it will embark on a month-long journey to its destination, about one and a half million kilometers from Earth.
The JWST has been in the works for more than three decades. According to ESA, the telescope has the largest astronomical mirror ever flown into space, sophisticated new scientific instruments, and a sunshield the size of a tennis court.
Webb is a joint project between NASA, ESA, and the Canadian Space Agency.
Video Credit: ESA
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By Chrissy Sexton, Earth.com Staff Writer