James Webb Space Telescope posted a photo:
On July 12, 2026, we celebrated four years of Webb science! And what a time it has been! We've learned so much about our universe and ourselves.
Here are some of our favorite images and most interesting science results in the form of a little retrospective in six parts, by year, which we will link in all the captions below. Each collage highlights science from the main science themes: Early Universe, Other Worlds, Galaxies, and Star Lifecycles.
This image:
2025: Clockwise ->
The Red Spider planetary nebula, the remnants of a Sun-like star that shed its layers leaving behind a white dwarf star. Credit: ESA/Webb, NASA & CSA, J. H. Kastner (Rochester Institute of Technology).
Abell S1063, Webb’s deepest look back on a single target to date as of 2025. This field of galaxies is dominated by an enormous, bright-white elliptical galaxy that is the core of a massive galaxy cluster. Short, curved, glowing red lines are images of distant background galaxies magnified and warped by gravitational lensing. A couple of foreground stars appear large and bright with long spikes around them. Credit: ESA/Webb, NASA & CSA, H. Atek, M. Zamani (ESA/Webb) Acknowledgement: R. Endsley.
Sagittarius B2 molecular cloud, an active star-forming region in our galaxy, seen in the mid-infrared, showing glowing cosmic dust heated by young stars. Credit: Image: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Adam Ginsburg (University of Florida), Nazar Budaiev (University of Florida), Taehwa Yoo (University of Florida); Image Processing: Alyssa Pagan (STScI).
Barred spiral Galaxy NGC 2283, seen close up and almost face on, filled with puffy, patchy clouds of hot gas and dust. Star clusters hide in the gas along the arms. Credit: ESA/Webb, NASA & CSA, A. Leroy.
Exoplanet TRAPPIST-1 e spectrum. This system has many rocky planets, including some in its habitable zone. This data indicates the absence of a thick hydrogen-rich atmosphere for planet “e.”. Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Joseph Olmsted (STScI). Uranus and moons, including a new one discovered by Webb.
Uranus and its rings, and beyond are 14 moons appearing as points of light. Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, M. El Moutamid (SwRI), M. Hedman (University of Idaho)
See our gallery of Webb's images and data from 2025:
www.flickr.com/photos/nasawebbtelescope/albums/7217772032...
First Images: www.flickr.com/photos/nasawebbtelescope/55393938950/
2022: www.flickr.com/photos/nasawebbtelescope/55393675403/
2023: www.flickr.com/photos/nasawebbtelescope/55393726239/
2024:h www.flickr.com/photos/nasawebbtelescope/55393541751/
2025: www.flickr.com/photos/nasawebbtelescope/55392607987/
2026...so far! www.flickr.com/photos/nasawebbtelescope/55393541756/
































