Here are a few instances when astronauts onboard the International Space Station (ISS) point their cameras toward Earth and create striking images of the world’s borders that, at times, say much about the countries they separate.

Absolutely Spectacular! 5 international borders as seen from space

Stunning shots of 19 spiral galaxies taken by the James Webb Space Telescope are literally going to blow your mind. These highly detailed images depict the cosmic wonders in a completely new light. Over 150 astronomers from around the globe came together to snap this beautiful collection of vibrant and gorgeous galaxies.

The project was part of the Physics at High Angular Resolution in Nearby Galaxies (PHANGS) programme.

Astronomers are especially intrigued with these images because they reveal how no two galaxies are the same. This became possible because of the precision that JWST offers.&nbsp;

“Webb’s new images are extraordinary. They’re mind-blowing even for researchers who have studied these same galaxies for decades," said Janice Lee, a project scientist for strategic initiatives at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, in a statement.&nbsp;

<img alt="Webb and Hubble’s Views of Spiral Galaxy NGC 1512" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f37e1ae6-7d0f-4a04-b09b-f41d885dd830" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/James%20webb%20galaxy%202.png" />

<img alt="Webb and Hubble’s Views of Spiral Galaxy NGC 1365" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="94cdfe56-462f-447e-9dfb-dd6c78fb1277" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/James%20webb%20galaxy%203.png" />

<img alt="James Webb spiral galaxies" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="567a5556-6d5a-45ac-a591-8c2cc5113a1d" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/James%20webb%20mosaic%20of%20galaxies.png" />

<h2>Like&nbsp;giant pinwheels</h2>

These spiral galaxies look like giant pinwheels and the latest images will help scientists understand more about how stars, galaxies and other galactic structures are formed and also about their evolution.&nbsp;

You can see glowing orange lanes of dust in the photos captured with the JWST's Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI).

The photos also show structures of gas and dust in these galaxies and stars in the process of being formed. These stars seem to be gathering mass from this gas and dust and so the photos are likely to help explain how galaxies like Milky Way form stars. This particular area can be seen as red "seeds" on the peaks of the dust lanes in these galaxies.

"These are where we can find the newest, most massive stars in the galaxies," Erik Rosolowsky, a professor of physics at the University of Alberta, said in the statement.

The photo&nbsp;of barred spiral galaxy NGC 1300, located 69 million light-years away in the constellation Eridanus, especially shows this area quite prominently.

JWST's Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) captured the older stars shining through the orange lanes of dust as bright blue specks. The JWST PHANGS image of the spiral galaxy NGC 7496, located 24 million light-years away from Earth in the constellation Grus, presents the clearest view of the mature blue stars.&nbsp;

<img alt="Webb and Hubble’s Views of Spiral Galaxy NGC 628" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="aa90501b-5215-4d79-a30f-6ca911628695" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/James%20webb%20galaxy%204.png" />

<h2>Massive voids</h2>

Some galaxies, such as the NGC 5068, located 20 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Virgo, show large areas of void.&nbsp;

"These holes may have been created by one or more stars that exploded, carving out giant holes in the interstellar material," &nbsp;Adam Leroy, a professor of astronomy at Ohio State University, said in the statement.

Stunning shots of 19 spiral galaxies taken by the James Webb Space Telescope are literally going to blow your mind. These highly detailed images depict the cosmic wonders in a completely new light.

Stunning shots of 19 spiral galaxies taken by the James Webb Space Telescope are literally going to blow your mind. These highly detailed images depict the cosmic wonders in a completely new light. Over 150 astronomers from around the globe came together to snap this beautiful collection of vibrant and gorgeous galaxies. The project was part of the Physics at High Angular Resolution in Nearby Galaxies (PHANGS) programme. Astronomers are especially intrigued with these images because they reveal how no two galaxies are the same. This became possible because of the precision that JWST offers. “Webb’s new images are extraordinary. They’re mind-blowing even for researchers who have studied these same galaxies for decades," said Janice Lee, a project scientist for strategic initiatives at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, in a statement. Like giant pinwheels These spiral galaxies look like giant pinwheels and the latest images will help scientists understand more about how stars, galaxies and other galactic structures are formed and also about their evolution. You can see glowing orange lanes of dust in the photos captured with the JWST's Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI). The photos also show structures of gas and dust in these galaxies and stars in the process of being formed. These stars seem to be gathering mass from this gas and dust and so the photos are likely to help explain how galaxies like Milky Way form stars. This particular area can be seen as red "seeds" on the peaks of the dust lanes in these galaxies. "These are where we can find the newest, most massive stars in the galaxies," Erik Rosolowsky, a professor of physics at the University of Alberta, said in the statement. The photo of barred spiral galaxy NGC 1300, located 69 million light-years away in the constellation Eridanus, especially shows this area quite prominently. JWST's Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) captured the older stars shining through the orange lanes of dust as bright blue specks. The JWST PHANGS image of the spiral galaxy NGC 7496, located 24 million light-years away from Earth in the constellation Grus, presents the clearest view of the mature blue stars. Massive voids Some galaxies, such as the NGC 5068, located 20 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Virgo, show large areas of void. "These holes may have been created by one or more stars that exploded, carving out giant holes in the interstellar material," Adam Leroy, a professor of astronomy at Ohio State University, said in the statement.

Hot blue stars, giant pinwheels, massive voids: James Webb captures 19 spiral galaxies. See photos

NASA, on Monday (Dec 18) released new images of Uranus which showed the seventh planet from the sun in more detail than before. The photos captured by the American space agency’s high-powered James Webb Space Telescope show the planet’s glowing rings, moons, storms, and other atmospheric features including a seasonal polar cap.&nbsp;

<h2>Detailed new&nbsp;images</h2>

The latest images of the icy planet show multiple inner and outer rings, nine of its 27 known moons and the planet’s seasonal polar cap. Some of the planet’s small moons were also seen within the rings.

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<h5>This image of Uranus from NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) on NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope exquisitely captures Uranus’&nbsp;seasonal north polar cap and dim inner and outer rings. (Photo credit:&nbsp;NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI)</h5>

These photos build on a two-colour version released earlier this year and add an “additional wavelength coverage for a more detailed look,” NASA said in a statement.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-captivating-galaxy-photos-win-big-at-top-astronomy-photography-contest-637527">A picture of the Andromeda galaxy wins top spot in astronomy photography contest</a>

The high-powered Webb telescope was also able to capture Uranus’ dim inner and outer rings, including the Zeta ring which is the closest to the planet. The Zeta ring is extremely faint and is shown in a reddish brown colour in the recent images, while several other rings were captured in a glowing blue colour.&nbsp;

<img alt="2" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0d08cf1d-f27d-48ed-82e4-8c4afa255308" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/WION%20IMAGES%21%20-%202023-12-19T110449.699.png" />

<h5>This wide-field image of Uranus from NIRCam on NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope shows the planet amid a smattering of distant background galaxies. This image also includes 14 of the planet’s 27 moons. (Photo credit:&nbsp;NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI)</h5>

“With Webb’s unparalleled infrared resolution and sensitivity, astronomers now see Uranus and its unique features with groundbreaking new clarity. These details, especially of the close-in Zeta ring, will be invaluable to planning any future missions to Uranus,” said NASA in a statement.

<h2>Uranus'&nbsp;seasonal north polar cap</h2>

One of the most striking details in the recent images is the planet’s seasonal north polar cloud cap. Some details of the cap were easier to see in the newer images, including the bright, white, inner cap and the dark lane at the bottom of the polar cap&nbsp;towards the lower latitudes, said the American space agency.&nbsp;

Additionally, several bright storms were also seen near and below the southern border of the polar cap. It is believed that the number of storms, their frequency, and where they appear are affected by a combination of seasonal and meteorological effects.

<img alt="3" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="618de54a-e329-491c-9d1c-a150ef98dfd9" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/WION%20IMAGES%21%20-%202023-12-19T110616.612.png" />

<h5>This wide-field compass image of Uranus shows&nbsp;some of its 27 moons and a few prominent stars. (Photo credit:&nbsp;NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI)</h5>

NASA noted how the “polar cap appears to become more prominent when the planet’s pole begins to point toward the Sun, as it approaches solstice and receives more sunlight.”&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-juno-captures-stunning-images-of-jupiter-as-christmas-star-669884">Juno captures stunning images of 'Christmas Star' Jupiter</a>

Uranus reaches its next solstice in 2028 and scientists are eager to observe any possible changes in the structure of these features during this time. The seventh planet from the Sun also serves as a proxy to study thousands of those discovered outside of our solar system, or exoplanets.&nbsp;

“This ‘exoplanet in our backyard’ can help astronomers understand how planets of this size work, what their meteorology is like, and how they formed. This can in turn help us understand our own solar system as a whole by placing it in a larger context,” said NASA in a statement.&nbsp;

NASA, on Monday (Dec 18) released new images of Uranus which showed the seventh planet from the sun in more detail than before. The photos captured by the American space agency’s high-powered James Webb Space Telescope show the planet’s glowing rings, moons, storms, and other atmospheric features including a seasonal polar cap.

NASA, on Monday (Dec 18) released new images of Uranus which showed the seventh planet from the sun in more detail than before. The photos captured by the American space agency’s high-powered James Webb Space Telescope show the planet’s glowing rings, moons, storms, and other atmospheric features including a seasonal polar cap. Detailed new images The latest images of the icy planet show multiple inner and outer rings, nine of its 27 known moons and the planet’s seasonal polar cap. Some of the planet’s small moons were also seen within the rings. This image of Uranus from NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) on NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope exquisitely captures Uranus’ seasonal north polar cap and dim inner and outer rings. (Photo credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI) These photos build on a two-colour version released earlier this year and add an “additional wavelength coverage for a more detailed look,” NASA said in a statement. ALSO READ | A picture of the Andromeda galaxy wins top spot in astronomy photography contest The high-powered Webb telescope was also able to capture Uranus’ dim inner and outer rings, including the Zeta ring which is the closest to the planet. The Zeta ring is extremely faint and is shown in a reddish brown colour in the recent images, while several other rings were captured in a glowing blue colour. This wide-field image of Uranus from NIRCam on NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope shows the planet amid a smattering of distant background galaxies. This image also includes 14 of the planet’s 27 moons. (Photo credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI) “With Webb’s unparalleled infrared resolution and sensitivity, astronomers now see Uranus and its unique features with groundbreaking new clarity. These details, especially of the close-in Zeta ring, will be invaluable to planning any future missions to Uranus,” said NASA in a statement. Uranus' seasonal north polar cap One of the most striking details in the recent images is the planet’s seasonal north polar cloud cap. Some details of the cap were easier to see in the newer images, including the bright, white, inner cap and the dark lane at the bottom of the polar cap towards the lower latitudes, said the American space agency. Additionally, several bright storms were also seen near and below the southern border of the polar cap. It is believed that the number of storms, their frequency, and where they appear are affected by a combination of seasonal and meteorological effects. This wide-field compass image of Uranus shows some of its 27 moons and a few prominent stars. (Photo credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI) NASA noted how the “polar cap appears to become more prominent when the planet’s pole begins to point toward the Sun, as it approaches solstice and receives more sunlight.” ALSO READ | Juno captures stunning images of 'Christmas Star' Jupiter Uranus reaches its next solstice in 2028 and scientists are eager to observe any possible changes in the structure of these features during this time. The seventh planet from the Sun also serves as a proxy to study thousands of those discovered outside of our solar system, or exoplanets. “This ‘exoplanet in our backyard’ can help astronomers understand how planets of this size work, what their meteorology is like, and how they formed. This can in turn help us understand our own solar system as a whole by placing it in a larger context,” said NASA in a statement.

Uranus stuns with halo-like rings, moons and this one special feature in new images

Uranus — the seventh planet from Sun — has not just one, two or three moons, but a total of 27 moons. New research suggests&nbsp;that four of its moons&nbsp;may be hiding oceans beneath their icy exteriors.&nbsp;

These four moons, namely Miranda, Ariel, Umbriel, and Titania, are over 1500 km in diameter and have been studied extensively by scientists.&nbsp;

However, a fresh look at 40-year-old data sent to Earth by NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft indicates that the four moons may have oceans buried kilometres deep under their surface.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/sun-like-star-swallows-entire-planet-gives-glimpse-of-earths-fate-to-astronomers-589358">Sun-like star swallows entire planet, gives glimpse of Earth’s fate to astronomers</a>

Of these, Titania and Oberon, which orbit the farthest from Uranus, may have oceans buried some 50 kilometres (30 metres) deep. Oceans on Ariel and Umbriel, on the other hand, may be closer to the surface at 30 kilometres (19 miles) deep.

These astonishing findings were shared in a new study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research in December 2022.

Talking to Space.com, Julie Castillo-Rogez, a planetary scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California and the lead author of this study said: "Finding oceans in the Uranian moons would increase the prospect that [...] ocean worlds are frequent in our solar system, and maybe — by extension — in other solar systems."

The new research can help explain how even in the frigid outer reaches of the solar system, persistent internal heat and a few chemicals can make the Uranian&nbsp;moons watery worlds.

As per the researchers, early in their histories, Uranus' five largest moons — namely Titania, Oberon, Ariel, Umbriel and Miranda — had substantial oceans that ran deep, ranging from 100 km to 150 km (62 miles to 90 miles).

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/saturns-vanishing-rings-further-its-cosmic-identity-crisis-589384">Saturn’s mesmerising rings vanishing, further aggravate its cosmic identity crisis</a>

"If the moons had benefited from long-term heating from their planet, then they could have maintained a thick ocean," said Castillo-Rogez.

Europa, a moon of Jupiter, and Enceladus, a moon of Saturn, both have significant subsurface oceans. The gravitational pull of their respective host planets causes these moons to experience deformation in their interiors and icy crusts, a phenomenon known as tidal flexing.&nbsp;

This process generates heat, which as per scientists, may be responsible for maintaining the subsurface water on these moons in a liquid, potentially life-supporting state.

However, Uranus has weaker tidal forces than Jupiter or Saturn, which means that the oceans on its four largest moons are "mostly frozen by now," according to Castillo-Rogez.

To gain a better understanding of the evolution of Uranus's largest moons, her team created a model using data collected from NASA missions that investigated other celestial bodies with subsurface oceans. The team examined findings from the Cassini mission, which studied Saturn's moon Enceladus, the Dawn mission, which explored the dwarf planet Ceres, and the New Horizons mission, which flew by Pluto and its largest moon Charon in 2015.&nbsp;

By analysing data from these missions, the team was able to construct a model of how the moons of Uranus may have formed and evolved over time.

The model created by the team reveals&nbsp;that the Uranian moons likely hold "thin oceans with high salt concentrations". This is likely due to limited internal heat left over from their births and considerable ammonia. The chemical is antifreeze in nature which helps keep water in its liquid form even in very low temperatures.

The researchers also suggest that the subsurface oceans could be habitable environments for microbial life that are adapted to living in extreme environments. They estimate that oceans would contain around 150 grams of salt per litre.&nbsp;Earth's Great Salt Lake in Utah has twice the salt volume but still boasts of life in and around it.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Uranus — the seventh planet from Sun — has not just one, two or three moons, but a total of 27 moons. New research suggests that four of its moons may be hiding oceans beneath their icy exteriors.

Uranus — the seventh planet from Sun — has not just one, two or three moons, but a total of 27 moons. New research suggests that four of its moons may be hiding oceans beneath their icy exteriors. These four moons, namely Miranda, Ariel, Umbriel, and Titania, are over 1500 km in diameter and have been studied extensively by scientists. However, a fresh look at 40-year-old data sent to Earth by NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft indicates that the four moons may have oceans buried kilometres deep under their surface. Also read | Sun-like star swallows entire planet, gives glimpse of Earth’s fate to astronomers Of these, Titania and Oberon, which orbit the farthest from Uranus, may have oceans buried some 50 kilometres (30 metres) deep. Oceans on Ariel and Umbriel, on the other hand, may be closer to the surface at 30 kilometres (19 miles) deep. These astonishing findings were shared in a new study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research in December 2022. Talking to Space.com, Julie Castillo-Rogez, a planetary scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California and the lead author of this study said: "Finding oceans in the Uranian moons would increase the prospect that [...] ocean worlds are frequent in our solar system, and maybe — by extension — in other solar systems." The new research can help explain how even in the frigid outer reaches of the solar system, persistent internal heat and a few chemicals can make the Uranian moons watery worlds. As per the researchers, early in their histories, Uranus' five largest moons — namely Titania, Oberon, Ariel, Umbriel and Miranda — had substantial oceans that ran deep, ranging from 100 km to 150 km (62 miles to 90 miles). Also read | Saturn’s mesmerising rings vanishing, further aggravate its cosmic identity crisis "If the moons had benefited from long-term heating from their planet, then they could have maintained a thick ocean," said Castillo-Rogez. Europa, a moon of Jupiter, and Enceladus, a moon of Saturn, both have significant subsurface oceans. The gravitational pull of their respective host planets causes these moons to experience deformation in their interiors and icy crusts, a phenomenon known as tidal flexing. This process generates heat, which as per scientists, may be responsible for maintaining the subsurface water on these moons in a liquid, potentially life-supporting state. However, Uranus has weaker tidal forces than Jupiter or Saturn, which means that the oceans on its four largest moons are "mostly frozen by now," according to Castillo-Rogez. To gain a better understanding of the evolution of Uranus's largest moons, her team created a model using data collected from NASA missions that investigated other celestial bodies with subsurface oceans. The team examined findings from the Cassini mission, which studied Saturn's moon Enceladus, the Dawn mission, which explored the dwarf planet Ceres, and the New Horizons mission, which flew by Pluto and its largest moon Charon in 2015. By analysing data from these missions, the team was able to construct a model of how the moons of Uranus may have formed and evolved over time. The model created by the team reveals that the Uranian moons likely hold "thin oceans with high salt concentrations". This is likely due to limited internal heat left over from their births and considerable ammonia. The chemical is antifreeze in nature which helps keep water in its liquid form even in very low temperatures. The researchers also suggest that the subsurface oceans could be habitable environments for microbial life that are adapted to living in extreme environments. They estimate that oceans would contain around 150 grams of salt per litre. Earth's Great Salt Lake in Utah has twice the salt volume but still boasts of life in and around it. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Just three planets down from Earth, this icy alien planet's moons may be hiding oceans of salty water

United States President Joe Biden unveiled a stunning image taken by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope. The powerful telescope has revealed the "deepest and sharpest infrared image of the early universe" ever taken, looking back more than 13 billion years.&nbsp;

The image is filled with thousands of galaxies and features the faintest objects ever observed.&nbsp;NASA chief Bill Nelson said that at least one of the faint, older specs of light appearing in the "background" of the photo - a composite of images of different wavelengths of light - dates back more than 13 billion years.&nbsp;

The stunning image showed the 4.6 billion-year-old galaxy cluster named SMACS 0723, whose combined mass acts as a "gravitational lens," distorting space to greatly magnify the light coming from more distant galaxies behind it.&nbsp;

The NASA chief further said that the thousands of galaxies were captured in a tiny patch of the sky roughly the size of a grain of sand held at arm's length by someone standing on Earth.&nbsp;

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It's here–the deepest, sharpest infrared view of the universe to date: Webb's First Deep Field. 
 
Previewed by <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> on July 11, it shows galaxies once invisible to us. The full set of <a href="https://twitter.com/NASAWebb?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASAWebb</a>'s first full-color images &amp; data will be revealed July 12: <a href="https://t.co/63zxpNDi4I">https://t.co/63zxpNDi4I</a> <a href="https://t.co/zAr7YoFZ8C">pic.twitter.com/zAr7YoFZ8C</a>
— NASA (@NASA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1546621144358391808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 11, 2022</a></blockquote>
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What is&nbsp;James Webb Space Telescope?&nbsp;

James Webb Space Telescope is the most powerful observatory ever placed in orbit.&nbsp;

Dan Coe, a Space Telescope Science Institute (STSI) astronomer and expert on the early Universe, told news agency AFP:&nbsp;"When I first saw the images... I suddenly learned three things about the Universe that I didn't know before. It's totally blown my mind."&nbsp;

James Webb Space Telescope is very unique. Its infrared capabilities are what make it powerful, allowing it to both pierce through cosmic dust clouds and detect light from the earliest stars, which has been stretched into infrared wavelengths as the universe expanded.&nbsp;

With that, James Webb can peer further back in time than any previous telescope, to the period shortly after the Big Bang, 13.8 billion years ago.&nbsp;

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United States President Joe Biden unveiled a stunning image taken by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope. The powerful telescope has revealed the "deepest and sharpest infrared image of the early universe" ever taken, looking back more than 13 billion years.

United States President Joe Biden unveiled a stunning image taken by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope. The powerful telescope has revealed the "deepest and sharpest infrared image of the early universe" ever taken, looking back more than 13 billion years. The image is filled with thousands of galaxies and features the faintest objects ever observed. NASA chief Bill Nelson said that at least one of the faint, older specs of light appearing in the "background" of the photo - a composite of images of different wavelengths of light - dates back more than 13 billion years. The stunning image showed the 4.6 billion-year-old galaxy cluster named SMACS 0723, whose combined mass acts as a "gravitational lens," distorting space to greatly magnify the light coming from more distant galaxies behind it. The NASA chief further said that the thousands of galaxies were captured in a tiny patch of the sky roughly the size of a grain of sand held at arm's length by someone standing on Earth. It's here–the deepest, sharpest infrared view of the universe to date: Webb's First Deep Field. Previewed by @POTUS on July 11, it shows galaxies once invisible to us. The full set of @NASAWebb's first full-color images & data will be revealed July 12: https://t.co/63zxpNDi4I pic.twitter.com/zAr7YoFZ8C — NASA (@NASA) July 11, 2022 × What is James Webb Space Telescope? James Webb Space Telescope is the most powerful observatory ever placed in orbit. Dan Coe, a Space Telescope Science Institute (STSI) astronomer and expert on the early Universe, told news agency AFP: "When I first saw the images... I suddenly learned three things about the Universe that I didn't know before. It's totally blown my mind." James Webb Space Telescope is very unique. Its infrared capabilities are what make it powerful, allowing it to both pierce through cosmic dust clouds and detect light from the earliest stars, which has been stretched into infrared wavelengths as the universe expanded. With that, James Webb can peer further back in time than any previous telescope, to the period shortly after the Big Bang, 13.8 billion years ago. × WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

James Webb telescope's first image: A never-before-seen view of the universe