This artist’s conception of the James Webb Space Telescope in space shows all its major elements fully deployed.
Image: NASA GSFC/CIL/Adriana Manrique Gutierrez
Image: NASA GSFC/CIL/Adriana Manrique Gutierrez
ABSTRACT breaks down mind-bending scientific research, future tech, new discoveries, and major breakthroughs.
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Lagrange points are weird locations in space where the gravitational pull of two large bodies, such as stars or planets, can strike a balance with the centripetal force of a small object, such as an orbiting spacecraft. L2 is located behind Earth from the perspective of the Sun, making it an ideal parking spot for an infrared telescope like Webb. This is because, to gaze back into the ancient universe, Webb needs shade from the glare of the Sun. At L2, the observatory’s sunshield will always be positioned toward the inner solar system, creating a permanent dark side that will keep the telescope’s instruments at a chilly -223°C (-370°F). Those frigid temperatures allow Webb to capture infrared light from distant targets without distortion from nearby heat sources.
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