--- title: "NASA Shows Off Mesmerizing First Images From James Webb Telescope" description: "NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has given us a first glimpse into the awe-inspiring power of the images it will produce." date: "2022-07-07" modified: "2022-07-07" authors: - name: "Noor Al-Sibai" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/nooralsibai" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/james-webb-telescope-first-images-calibration-test" categories: - "James Webb Space Telescope" - "NASA" - "Space" tags: - "james webb space telescope" - "JWST" - "NASA" - "the digest" --- # NASA Shows Off Mesmerizing First Images From James Webb Telescope ![NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has given us a first glimpse into the awe-inspiring power of the images it will produce.]() *\Image: NASA\* ## Deep Deep Scientists behind NASA's James Webb Space Telescope have given us a first glimpse into the awe-inspiring power of the images it will produce — and what we're seeing is only a test run. As [NASA proudly notes]() on its website, the calibration test image that was composited together from 32 hours and 72 exposures, "is among the deepest images of the universe ever taken" — and the telescope is only getting started. https://twitter.com/NASAWebb/status/1544779918554406916 ## Testing 123 Almost as fabulous as the image itself is the fact that this photo was taken as part of an early test of the telescope's Fine Guidance Sensor (FGS). Its task is to make sure the cameras and mirrors are all aligned correctly. "Even when capturing unplanned imagery during a test," NASA wrote with a flourish on its blog, "FGS is capable of producing stunning views of the cosmos." Originally taken in May and not released to the public until now, this stunning image is just a precursor for the real thing. In about a week's time, NASA will release the [first full-color images]() of deep space taken by the JWST. Until then, we're [waiting with bated breath]() to see how the telescope, two decades in the making, can outdo itself. **READ MORE:** [Webb’s Fine Guidance Sensor Provides a Preview]() \[NASA\] **More on the JWST:** *[Scientists Say New James Webb Images Are So Powerful That It Was Emotional Just Looking At Them ]()* ## Author At Futurism, I've often been drawn to unpacking the narratives that underlie technological, scientific and medical progress, with a special interest in areas of conflict and ambiguity that end up setting agendas and steering the fates of both elites and the hoi polloi. I'm a committed generalist, but I often find myself returning to work involving NASA and the private space sector, the effects of AI on media and society, and the mechanics of the pharmaceutical industry, with a specific focus on the spread of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Prior to Futurism, I worked for publications ranging from Media Matters and Truthdig to Raw Story and Bustle. I'm also the author of "Myspace Scene Queens," a 2024 title in Instar Books' acclaimed "Remember the Internet" series. My work at Futurism has been cited by outlets including the New Yorker, Slate, Nieman Lab, the Verge, the MIT Technology Review, the Sunday Times, and the Daily Beast. I grew up in North Carolina, attended the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and now live in Brooklyn, New York. In my free time, I'm an avid reader and music fan; you can probably find me at a local poetry reading, concert, underground rave, or DJ set. I'm the proud parent of an ineffable orange cat named Mee-Mow. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()