By Isabella Magno

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) unveiled on Tuesday, July 12, the first photos taken by the James Webb Space Telescope, ushering in a new era in astronomy. 

The Webb telescope was launched from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, South America, on December 25, 2021, in cooperation with the European Space Agency and Canadian Space Agency.  

The NASA Associate Administrator for Science Mission Directorate, Thomas Zurbuchen, described this breakthrough as a “singular and historic” moment. 

The discovery of water in the atmospheres of exoplanets, investigation into the ejection of shells from nebulae, and examination of how galaxies interact to ignite star formation are just a few of the “interesting” things discovered in the first photographs obtained from the Webb telescope. 

“These first images show us how much we can accomplish when we come together behind a shared goal, to solve the cosmic mysteries that connect us all. It’s a stunning glimpse of the insights yet to come,” Zurbuchen added. 

Moreover, according to NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, this achievement can aid humanity in comprehending the cosmos and providing answers to questions that have never even been thought of.

“I can’t wait to see the discoveries that we uncover—the team is just getting started,” Nelson penned in an article on the official website of NASA. 

With the publication of Webb’s initial photos, Webb’s science operations are officially underway. 

Astronomers around the globe will now have the opportunity to solve the solar system’s mysteries by observing objects in the universe and the early cosmos. 

Thumbnail from NASA