NASA’S New James Webb Space Telescope on Display in Baltimore

Although it is not the actual telescope, but rather a full-size model, for those interested in seeing the next generation is space telescopes from NASA, a visit to the Maryland Science Center, in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor is the place to go. On display now, visitors can get a close up look at the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) which will be a leap ahead of the spectacular science gained from the Hubble Space Telescope (HST).

Named after the NASA Administrator who was integral to the development of the Apollo program, the Webb telescope is a large, infrared-optimized space telescope with a large mirror, 6.5 meters (21.3 feet) in diameter. Because of its open architecture and its orbit of about a million miles away from the shadow of the earth, the JWST has a sunshield the size of a tennis court.

Once launched in 2018, the folded-up JWST will open up to its full size once in orbit. From there, the Webb’s instruments will begin their observations which will primarily focus on the infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum, although the telescope does also possess the ability to view the visible light range.

The light gathering power if its enormous primary mirror will allow the Webb to peer deeper into the universe, and therefore back in time further, than ever before. In doing so, the space observatory will be able to find the first galaxies that formed in the early Universe, connecting the Big Bang to our own Milky Way Galaxy.

The JWST is a joint project of NASA, the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency.

Opportunities to see the full-scale model of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) will exist from Oct. 14-26 as part of the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) annual conference being held in Baltimore.

For more information about the Webb telescope, visit: http://jwst.nasa.gov