ERIE, Pa. — The James Webb space telescope, which launched on Christmas Day in 2021, is an orbiting infrared observatory. Fitted with a near infrared camera and spectrograph, the telescope was built to document the formation of stars and planetary systems, and to determine how galaxies evolve. The telescope’s primary mirror is more than 21 feet wide. It has enabled NASA to look deeper into the solar system and has produced a series of breathtaking images.

Darren Williams, professor of astronomy and astrophysics at Penn State Behrend, will discuss the Webb telescope, its mirror and the resulting imagery, which has changed our understanding of the most distant objects in the solar system, at the next Open House Night in Astronomy at Penn State Behrend. His April 13 talk, which begins at 6:30 p.m. in Room 101 of the Otto Behrend Science Building, is free and open to the public.

Open House Nights in Astronomy are an outreach program of the School of Science at Penn State Behrend. These scientific presentations are intended for ages 8 and up. For additional information, contact the school at 814-898-6105.