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  • BBC Sky at Night

    CUTTING EDGE

    Jan 20, 2022 4 minutes

    Our experts examine the hottest new research

    A whole new world view

    The JWST will open up new windows to explore exoplanets and their atmospheres

    All being well, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) which launched on 25 December, has successfully reached its target at L2 (Lagrange point 2), on the far side of Earth to the Sun, where the gravity of the two large bodies and the centrifugal force balance each other. After a six-month testing process it will begin scientific observations, probably in June. The global astronomical community will get its first chance to use this new platform through the Cycle 1 General Observers (GO) program (see for more details). This project gives astronomers a chance to

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