Summary of:
Beyond Images: Astrochemistry with the James Webb Telescope
By Stefenie Milam
Launched on Christmas Day of 2021, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)
continues to surpass all expectations in the fields of astronomy, astrochemistry, and planetary
science, providing insights into how the first stars and galaxies formed after the Big Bang.
Successor to the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), the JWST is 6,000 kilograms lighter, has a
primary mirror that is 4.1 meters larger in diameter, and operates in temperatures that are around
250 degrees Celsius colder (Milam, 2024). Additionally, with JWST operating in the infrared
wavelengths, it was sent one million miles away to block radiation from the Earth, Moon, and
Sun, whereas the HST resides in low-Earth orbit and is still operational more than 30 years after
its launch. However, as mentioned by Milam (2024), the two systems are similar in that they
involved collaboration with international partners of NASA and the Space Telescope Science
Institute (STScI), with both involving the European Space Agency (ESA) and the JWST also
involving the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
Not only does the JWST have unprecedented imaging capabilities, but its spectroscopic
capabilities are just as powerful, allowing for any observable region’s full chemical composition
(their “fingerprints”) to be determined along with several other physical dynamics. Milam (2024)
stated the importance of this information is that it helps us better understand the lifecycle of
matter, including how chemistry evolves, the key ingredients of space formations (stars, planets,
atmospheres, etc.), how matter is either preserved or destroyed over time, and even the genesis of
humanity. Also, by examining what happens to volatiles (everything besides dust) during a stellar
lifecycle, scientists can learn more about the potential existence of other planets like our own. If
Beyond Images: Astrochemistry with the James Webb Telescope
By Stefenie Milam
Launched on Christmas Day of 2021, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)
continues to surpass all expectations in the fields of astronomy, astrochemistry, and planetary
science, providing insights into how the first stars and galaxies formed after the Big Bang.
Successor to the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), the JWST is 6,000 kilograms lighter, has a
primary mirror that is 4.1 meters larger in diameter, and operates in temperatures that are around
250 degrees Celsius colder (Milam, 2024). Additionally, with JWST operating in the infrared
wavelengths, it was sent one million miles away to block radiation from the Earth, Moon, and
Sun, whereas the HST resides in low-Earth orbit and is still operational more than 30 years after
its launch. However, as mentioned by Milam (2024), the two systems are similar in that they
involved collaboration with international partners of NASA and the Space Telescope Science
Institute (STScI), with both involving the European Space Agency (ESA) and the JWST also
involving the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
Not only does the JWST have unprecedented imaging capabilities, but its spectroscopic
capabilities are just as powerful, allowing for any observable region’s full chemical composition
(their “fingerprints”) to be determined along with several other physical dynamics. Milam (2024)
stated the importance of this information is that it helps us better understand the lifecycle of
matter, including how chemistry evolves, the key ingredients of space formations (stars, planets,
atmospheres, etc.), how matter is either preserved or destroyed over time, and even the genesis of
humanity. Also, by examining what happens to volatiles (everything besides dust) during a stellar
lifecycle, scientists can learn more about the potential existence of other planets like our own. If
