JWST SCIENCE Q&A
We ask NASA’s Dr Mike McElwain about his hopes for the new telescope
What sort of science will the telescope do in its first year?
In the first year, Webb’s observing program will run the cosmic gamut from the first light in the early universe to exoplanet atmospheres. Webb will observe the most interesting objects in the universe with a combination of improved resolution, sensitivity and wavelength coverage. This will enable new and enhanced characterisation of the famous objects in the sky. If you can name it, Webb is likely to observe it, though maybe not all in the first year.