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How does the James Webb Space Telescope investigate forming stars and galaxies?

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Telescope Aerial view of the Keck Observatory's twin domes, which are opened to reveal the telescopes. Keck II is on the left and Keck I on the right.

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) investigates forming stars and galaxies primarily by detecting infrared radiation.1

Many celestial objects, including protostars and distant galaxies, are often obscured from view by intervening dust particles that block optical light. Because infrared wavelengths can penetrate these dust clouds, the JWST is able to observe the processes occurring within them. By operating in the infrared spectrum, the telescope captures detailed imagery and data of star-forming regions—such as the Pillars of Creation—with greater clarity than previous observatories.213

To maintain the sensitivity required for these observations, the JWST is equipped with a large sun shield that protects its instruments from thermal radiation, ensuring that the heat from the telescope itself does not interfere with the detection of faint infrared signals from the early universe.1