NASA’s JWST first images: everything you need to know

NASA just released the first full-color images from the James Webb Space Telescope. These images, including the deepest infrared image of our universe ever, are a preview to how JWST will change our understanding of the cosmos. So what else does this first batch of photos reveal?

00:00 - 00:31 Intro
00:31 - 01:00 About JWST
1:00 - 01:39 Commissioning Phase
1:39 - 02:18 Deepest Image Ever
02:18 - 02:48 Carina Nebula
02:48 - 03:05 Southern Ring
03:05 - 03:20 Stephan’s Quintet
03:20 - 03:54 Exoplanet Spectrum
03:54 - 05:04 Scientist Reactions
05:04 - 05:16 End Credits

NASA showed off the first full-color images captured by the James Webb Space Telescope. And these images are just a glimpse into what JWST can really do. It took two and a half decades to build and launch JWST, the largest and most advanced space telescope ever built. Unlike its predecessor Hubble, Webb can observe way farther into the infrared part of the spectrum, giving it an even better look at the first galaxies formed after the Big Bang. The telescope will help us understand how the cosmos began, and whether we’re alone out there.

First, we have the deepest and sharpest infrared image ever taken of our universe. It’s a region full of thousands of galaxies. And because the light from these distant objects takes so long to reach us, we’re seeing them as they were when the universe was less than a billion years old.

Then there’s the Carina Nebula, a stellar nursery. This image provides a glimpse into how stars form. It was imaged by Hubble…but this new view reveals new stars…and some new mysteries.

On the other end of the stellar life cycle, there’s the Southern Ring. It’s a region of cosmic dust and gas that surrounds a dying star. The telescope captured two views in different chunks of the infrared spectrum, revealing a clearer view of the binary star at the nebula’s center.

Then there’s Stephan’s Quintet, a compact group of five galaxies. Highlights here are two galaxies in the process of merging, and a region of extremely bright gas being pulled into a black hole.

And finally, this is the telescope’s first spectrum of an exoplanet’s atmosphere. This graph reveals the atmospheric composition of a large, hot planet far from our own solar system. Data like this can reveal whether a world may sustain life as we know it....in this case, we can see the tell-tale signs of water vapor.

Read more:
Marvel At The First Batch Of Full-Color Images From NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope
Today’s images each showcase an exciting ability of the observatory — and they’re only a jumping-off point of what’s to come. It’s got approximately 20 years left in its lifespan to serve up more delicious astronomical treats.
But, before JWST can start collecting all these baby pictures of the cosmos, NASA and STScI, which oversees the telescope’s operations and science, needed to know that all of JWST’s state-of-the-art instruments and hardware could actually work in tandem to get the job done.

What to Expect From NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope Launch
“I really do think that this telescope will be transformational for astrophysics,” says Straughn. “I think that we will learn things about the Universe that completely surprise us, and that’s one of the most exciting prospects about any time we put a big, bold telescope like this into space. We learn things that we never expected.”

[Seeker]

What did you think of the James Webb Space Telescope's first images? Look for more Seeker by The Verge videos releasing every other Tuesday on this channel!

[Mahtt]

2 weeks to take a photo with Hubble, now it’s 12 hours with JWST…the photos that came out today are breathtaking, beyond what I expected…to imagine what’s gonna come in the future is something I haven’t wrapped my head around yet.

[ahmadshauqijohara]

As an adult who spent some time during primary school going to the library, reading astronomy books which at that time they still recognised Pluto as one of the planets in our solar system, then looking at all these breathtaking pictures taken by JWST, I could never stop thinking about how enormous our civilisation has achieved so far.

With respect to all scientists who made this happen, I could sense they were extremely excited for what the future will offer.

[A_corofcb]

I am speechless, these images are beyond description. I feel so lucky and in a way privileged to see these images I can't even begin to imagine what will come from JWST in the future.

[sarbojitmukherjee]

It is wonderful how technology connects us with the nature

[geoffreyaugust]

These first images gave me goosebumps. What an incredible piece of equipment

[jordannainoca]

Beautiful. Viewing the literal past through the lens of JWST.

[rionbuss]

I can't wait to see nearby solar systems in our galaxy! 😁🙏

[drottningu]

Huge congratulations to all those who were involved with this endeavor! I really hope that by viewing such distant objects in such great detail we humans learn to come together and achieve even greater feats instead of warring here in the dirt.

[kemsat-nh]

These nerds getting hyped up is super cute. Delve further into the unknown, and reveal the truths of the cosmos, you beautiful brains.

[Userisyin]

I am a week away from my 29th birthday. Discovery in space is the only thing I look forward to.

[SooRandomTV]

Future images are going to be even more mindblowing!

[cam]

I’m hoping we’ll finally see evidence of life on an exoplanet through atmospheric composition.

[StitchTheFox]

Im most excited about what scientists and the people who know what they are doing are gonna come up with. So much more science to be done.

[fishypaw]

"It's life, Jim, but not as we know it!"

If the JWST can find life somewhere else, then it will be worth the time and investment for that alone.

[sizanogreen]

can't wait for the spectra of all the known(going to be discovered) exoplanets in the near vicinity. The amount of insight we will get about our neighorhood will be one of the biggest boosts to our knowledge in that regard, like ever. Compareable to the big journeys of discovery imo.
But all the other stuff we will learn is obviously going to be extremely interesting as well. Damn am I happy it is finally operational :)

[theveganrancor]

Absolutely breath taking I’m so exited to see what we learn and how far back we go. Lesss

[Billy_D]

Imagine if all our focus was on things like this instead fighting pointless wars...

[imranharun]

3:43 Lisa's ear rings! I'm obsessed!

[PassportGaming]

Been waiting for this for 6 years, but hopefully we can build better and 100X bigger telescopes on the moon in a few years