Everyday Science · 45 sec
James Webb Space Telescope
The science behind something you encounter, use, or wonder about.
The useful idea
- An infrared telescope
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a space telescope designed to conduct infrared astronomy.
- A segmented mirror
Webb's primary mirror consists of 18 hexagonal mirror segments made of gold-plated beryllium, which together create a 6.5-meter-diameter (21 ft) mirror, compared with Hubble's 2.4 m (7 ft 10 in).
- A protective shield
Its five-layer sunshield protects it from warming by the Sun, Earth, and Moon.
Why this matters
Look for James Webb Space Telescope the next time you notice this pattern in everyday life.
Try this
Look for James Webb Space Telescope the next time you notice this pattern in everyday life.
Test your recall
Which idea belongs to the explanation of James Webb Space Telescope?
- An infrared telescope — correct
- A segmented mirror
- A protective shield
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a space telescope designed to conduct infrared astronomy.