"2023's Most Stunning Space Vistas Captured by James Webb Telescope"
Originally Published 2 years ago — by BBC
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has been operational for two years and is providing unprecedented views of the universe, from detailed images of nearby celestial bodies to the earliest galaxies formed after the Big Bang. Scientists are surprised by the maturity of these early galaxies and the size of their central black holes, challenging existing theories. JWST's precise launch has extended its expected operational life to potentially over 20 years, allowing astronomers to plan long-term studies, such as "deep fields" to observe the faintest and most distant galaxies. While JWST captures stunning images, over 70% of its time is dedicated to spectroscopy, analyzing the composition and properties of celestial objects.