NASA releases first photos from James Webb Space Telescope—Photos + details about Huntsville’s role in the project
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We’re sure you’ve heard about the stunning first images from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). But, did you know that Huntsville + North Alabama played a major role in the telescope’s development? Read on for more details + photos.
Local connections
It’s no surprise that the Rocket City has lots of connections to the JWST, a revolutionary piece of space tech. Here are the ones you need to know about:
- A Huntsville company, Nexolve, was responsible for the sunshield that protects the telescope from the sun’s radiation
- The telescope’s 18 mirrors were manufactured by Axsys in Cullman
- Testing for the mirrors was done at Marshall Space Flight Center
Read our full writeup on the tech behind JWST.
The images
Finally, what you’ve been waiting for: The first official image from JWST was released Monday evening, July 11, and the rest followed on Tuesday, July 12. Here they are, in all their glory:
Two views of the Southern Ring Nebula. The image on the left is from Webb’s NIRCam, and on the right is the same image using the MIRI instrument. (NASA) The photo we’ve all been waiting for. (NASA) 
Same photo, different instruments. On the left is mid-infrared, and the right is near-infrared—the different instruments allow Webb to capture the same image with varying levels of detail. (NASA) 
The “Cosmic Cliffs” of the Carina Nebula, where stars are being born. (NASA) 
5 galaxies, known as Stephan’s Quintet; four of them are interacting, while the fifth (far left) is in the foreground, far away from the others. (NASA)
We are proud of all the Huntsville minds behind this great scientific achievement. Share your excitement with us on social by tagging @hvilleblast and using #hvilleblast.
