These stunning images captured by NASA’s James Webb Telescope are a treat for space lovers

Described as the world’s most powerful telescope, NASA’s James Webb Telescope captured some stunning images of our universe this year, leaving space buffs spellbound. The $10 billion next-generation observatory was launched on an Ariane 5 rocket from the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana on Dec. 25, 2021. Named after former NASA administrator, Webb follows in the footsteps of the legendary Hubble but it offers glimpses into the universe that we may not have previously accessed. Webb is about 100 times more powerful than Hubble.

On its one year anniversary, here are 5 incredible images captured by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) in 2022 that revolutionized space imaging.

The deepest infrared image of the early universe

In the first image, taken in July 2022, Webb revealed “the deepest, sharpest infrared image of the early universe” ever, 13 billion years ago. The stunning shot, revealed during a White House briefing by President Joe Biden, showed thousands of overflowing galaxies and featured the faintest objects ever observed, colored by infrared in shades of blue, orange and white. The image shows the SMACS 0723 galaxy cluster as it appeared 4.6 billion years ago, with many galaxies in front of and behind the cluster.

Carina Nebula

That same month, the telescope revealed young stellar nurseries and single stars in the Carina Nebula that were previously obscured. Called Cosmic Cliffs, the 3D web image that looks like rocky mountains on a moonlit evening. In fact, it’s the edge of a giant gaseous cavity within NGC 3324, and the tallest “peaks” in this image are about 7 light-years high.

Rings of Neptune

In September 2022, the telescope captured the sharpest view of Neptune’s rings in more than 30 years. In 1989, NASA’s Voyager 2 became the first spacecraft to take a picture of Neptune. According to NASA, not only did Webb capture the sharpest picture of this distant planet’s rings since the Voyager 2 spacecraft flew in 1989, but his cameras also revealed the icy giant in a whole new light. Webb also captured seven of Neptune’s fourteen known moons.

The Wagonwheel Galaxy

In August 2022, Webb’s powerful infrared gaze produced this detailed image of the Cartwheel and two smaller companion galaxies against the backdrop of many other galaxies. The image has provided a new perspective on the evolution of the galaxy over billions of years, according to a NASA statement. The Cartwheel galaxy, located about 500 million light-years away in the constellation Sculptor, is a rare sight. Their cartwheel-like appearance is the result of an extreme event: a high-speed collision between a large spiral galaxy and a smaller galaxy not visible in this image.

pillars of creation

In October 2022, the James Webb Telescope captured a lush and highly detailed landscape: the Pillars of Creation. middle of the universe. The Pillars of Creation are located 6,500 light-years from Earth in the Eagle Nebula of our Milky Way.