NOVA

Ultimate Space Telescope

Follow the dramatic story of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope – the most complex machine ever launched into space – in hopes of peering deeper back in time than ever before and answering some of astronomy’s biggest questions.

Ultimate Space Telescope

53m 33s

Follow the dramatic story of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope – the most complex machine ever launched into space – in hopes of peering deeper back in time than ever before and answering some of astronomy’s biggest questions.

Previews + Extras

  • Ultimate Space Telescope Preview: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Ultimate Space Telescope Preview

    S49 E10 - 28s

    Follow the dramatic story of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope – the most complex machine ever launched into space – in hopes of peering deeper back in time than ever before and answering some of astronomy’s biggest questions.

  • How Scientists Created JWST's First Test Image: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    How Scientists Created JWST's First Test Image

    S49 E10 - 4m 50s

    A month after its launch, the next step for the James Webb Space Telescope was to align all 18 of its mirrors. Aligning the 18 mirrors of the James Webb Space Telescope took extreme precision and allowed it to take its first image—a star amongst many galaxies.

  • NASA Reacts to the James Webb Space Telescope Images: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    NASA Reacts to the James Webb Space Telescope Images

    S49 E10 - 1m 55s

    This team of space scientists, visual developers and science writers have been working together since early June processing the images of celestial objects, and the spectra of the atmosphere of an exoplanet, for release to the public, so the world can see what Webb can do. They are the only team members who’ve had the privilege of seeing the images.

  • Why Distant Galaxies Look Red: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Why Distant Galaxies Look Red

    S49 E10 - 3m 40s

    The James Webb Space Telescope, a project 30 years in the making, launched in December 2021 and arrived at its destination point in January. The telescope will be able to see further into the infrared part of the spectrum than Hubble, and further back in time.

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