NASA’s new space telescope has captured its first starlight and even taken a selfie of its giant, gold mirror.
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All 18 segments of the primary mirror on the James Webb Space Telescope seem to be working properly a month-and-half into the mission.
The telescope's first target was a bright star 258 light years away in the constellation Ursa Major.
Over the next few months, the hexagonal mirror segments will be aligned and focused as one, allowing science observations to begin by the end of June.
The $10 billion infrared observatory – considered the successor to the ageing Hubble Space Telescope – will seek light from the first stars and galaxies that formed in the universe nearly 14 billion years ago.
It will also examine the atmospheres of alien worlds for any possible signs of life.
Webb’s 6.5-metre, gold-plated mirror is the largest ever launched into space.
Webb blasted off from South America in December and reached its designated perch 1.6 million kilometres away last month.
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