James Webb Space Telescope 5 Years Later

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) was launched on December 25, 2021, and commissioned 6 months later to great hoopla. Since then, it has been collecting data and images. Has it lived up to its hype?

Amateur astronomer, Jay Bakst, will present what has happened in the five years since JWST was launched and began operating in deep space. The telescope promised to detect extremely faint infrared light from across the universe. Was that achieved and what has it meant to science?

We will look at highlights of the science JWST has produced, including observations of some of the earliest known galaxies, detailed studies of star‑forming regions, and measurements of molecules in exoplanet atmospheres. These results show how the telescope is expanding our understanding of cosmic origins and the physical processes that shape planets, stars, and galaxies. This program is supported by the Friends of Port Townsend Public Library.