This past Christmas, NASA’s James Webb telescope celebrated its one year anniversary in orbit. On December 25, 2021, and traveled  to the second Lagrange point, capturing images with details that the notable Hubble telescope cannot obtain. Launched in April of 1990, Hubble’s eight foot long mirror is significantly smaller than Webb’s nearly twenty-two foot long one that makes up to six times more wavelengths of light available. The differences don’t stop in their size with Webb being in orbit nearly one million miles away from earth, passing Hubble at 332 miles. With the environment of extremely cold temperatures that the Webb telescope needs, it had to travel that much further away from Earth. This provides us with being able to see extraterrestrial areas first hand. 

The James Webb telescope has reached some of the same places as the Hubble, retaking similar pictures. Only this time, we get to see more depth, color, quality, and accuracy of what is really up there in our solar system. For instance, when Hubble attempted to photograph the nebula, clouds of dust got in the way, tinting the image. Overcoming the stained surface, Webb was able to get a pretty clear image with its new form of technology. 

Excitement arises around all aspects of the James Webb telescope and what it has in store for the future. In turn, information continues to be revealed such as images come out of new discoveries, clearer pictures that were seen in the past, and the overall advancement into space.