JWST launched December 25, 2021, and arrived at Lagrange Point 2 in January 2022. NASA's $10 billion telescope is the largest and most powerful space telescope. First scientific images released July 12, 2022
James Webb was NASA administrator from 1961 to 1968. He pioneered first American manned space flights and Apollo programs. Project named after Webb, originally called "Next Generation Space Telescope"
Webb orbits Sun at 1.5 million kilometers from Earth. Telescope folds origami-style and unfolds like a "Transformer". Features 5-layer sunshield with SPF 1 million protection. Will study first galaxies born after Big Bang over 13.5 billion years
NASA's Kepler spacecraft discovered planet in 2009 using transit method. Located 460.2 light-years from Earth in Lyra constellation. Planet orbits red dwarf star Kepler-438 every 35 days
HD1 and HD2 were discovered by University of Tokyo astronomers on April 7, 2022. Located in Sextans and Cetus constellations respectively. Found in two patches of sky surveyed by different telescopes
Eagle Nebula's elephant trunks were discovered by Duncan in 1920. Hubble captured iconic image in 1995, named one of Space.com's top ten Hubble photos. Image features gas and dust creating new stars while being eroded by nearby stars