Space Telescope
A tool to observe the planets. Astronomers for hundreds of years have used telescopes to look into the night sky to uncover the mysteries of the Universe. Space telescopes or Space Observatory are telescopes in outer space to explore celestial bodies. Space telescopes are nothing but a Spacecraft that are more advantageous than ground-based telescopes as they can provide the best data without any hindrance from the particles in the Earth’s atmosphere and light pollution. Space telescopes are very difficult to build, operate, and involve many expenditures.
- However, space telescopes have made fantastic discoveries in the past few decades and helped us learn more about the unknown Universe, which would not have been possible with ground-based telescopes. The Hubble Space Telescope (HST), Kepler, and James Webb Space Telescope are some well-renowned space telescopes that has helped detect many stars, galaxies, exoplanets, other celestial bodies, in fact find the answers to the birth of the Universe.
Difference Between James Webb and Hubble Space Telescopes
Feature | James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) | Hubble Space Telescope (HST) |
Launch Date | 25 December 2021 | 24 April 1990 |
Orbit Location | Orbits the Sun at Lagrange Point L2 (1.5 million km from Earth) | Orbits the Earth in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) (~547 km) |
Wavelength Range | Infrared spectrum | Ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared |
Main Scientific Goals | Study early Universe, first galaxies, exoplanet atmospheres, and formation of solar systems | Broad observation of stars, galaxies, planets; contributed to expansion rate of Universe |
Size of Mirror | 6.5 meters diameter (much larger) | 2.4 meters diameter |
Cooling Requirement | Operates at extremely low temperatures (~–233°C) using sunshield | No active cooling; operates in visible/UV light |
Servicing and Maintenance | Not serviceable due to distance from Earth | Serviced multiple times by astronauts via Space Shuttle |
Major Contributions | First light after Big Bang, detailed study of exoplanets, deep space imaging | Iconic images of deep space, helped determine age of Universe |
Complementarity | Works in tandem with Hubble and Nancy Grace Roman Telescope for broader observations | Continues to function alongside JWST for multi-wavelength studies |
