The Webb Space Telescope is the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope and has already begun to reveal fascinating new aspects of the visible and invisible (to us) universe. We will explore the genesis of the Webb and its winding path to the moment of liftoff. The journey after liftoff was no less complicated, but much faster, and it has now reached its final observation point and begun to send back data ranging from breathtaking photos to spectra of exoplanets. The capabilities of the world’s largest space telescope will be discussed and illustrated with many of the images and data released since “first light” about 3 months ago.

David Velasquez is a member of the FOTO Board and is a retired scientist from 3M who lives in and loves Lake County.