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The first images from NASA's new space telescope show how it's coming into focus

The James Webb Space Telescope's primary mirror is made up of 18 hexagonal segments. Now that the telescope is in space, mission managers need to perfectly align them so the segments work as one giant mirror. NASA/Chris Gunn hide caption

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NASA/Chris Gunn

Science

The first images from NASA's new space telescope show how it's coming into focus

February 11, 2022 • The James Webb Space Telescope has seen its first starlight, but its 18 mirror segments aren't yet perfectly aligned. As a result, the pictures it's sending back now aren't exactly cosmic eye candy.

The James Webb telescope reaches its final destination in space, a million miles away

The James Webb Space Telescope will capture pictures of the very first stars in the universe and help scientists study the atmosphere of planets orbiting stars outside our solar system to see if they might be habitable. NASA/AP hide caption

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NASA/AP

Space

The James Webb telescope reaches its final destination in space, a million miles away

January 24, 2022 • The $10 billion telescope is nearly ready to begin capturing images that scientists hope will help uncover the mysteries of the universe — and scope out other possible habitable planets.