The first images from Nasa’s latest and most powerful space telescope were released on 12 July. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), which is approximately 1.6km away from Earth, can see further into the cosmos than any previous instrument. 

Among its first scientific releases was an analysis of the weather on a planet some 1,120 light-years away from Earth. Named Wasp-96b, analysis by the JWST confirmed the presence of water, as well as clouds and hazes in the planet’s atmosphere. Previously the planet was assumed to be free of clouds.

The infrared spectrum that the telescope sees in necessitates that it remain in deep space sheltered from the sun and Earth behind an impressive heat shield. The lifespan of the JWST could be as long as 20 years, due to unusually excellent launch conditions which preserved fuel.

The initial set of images and data can be found here.