NASA, ESA, CSA
Where is James Webb Space Telescope now?
Today James Webb Space Telescope is 0.009 au (1.41 million km) from Earth and 1.0 au from the Sun. Its radio signals take 5 s to reach us. It is moving away from Earth at 0.1 km/s.
In our sky it is in Aries (right ascension 02h 58m 59s, declination +21° 21′ 12″), but far too faint to see.
Where it is in the Solar System
Seen from above the plane of Earth’s orbit, with the Sun in the middle: the planets’ orbits, the spacecraft today and its path a year back and a year ahead (where JPL’s trajectory covers it).
Mission
Infrared space observatory at the Sun-Earth L2 point, studying the first galaxies, star and planet formation, and exoplanets.
| Agency | NASA, ESA, CSA |
|---|---|
| Launch | December 25, 2021 |
| Destination | Sun-Earth L2 |
| Status | Active mission. |
Milestones
Position: JPL Horizons, October 13, 2026. NASA, ESA, CSA · Data sources
How to use this page
The page shows where the spacecraft is now, its path through the solar system, its key facts and its main milestones, from NASA JPL’s data.
Frequently asked questions
How is the position worked out?
From NASA JPL Horizons, which publishes the trajectories of spacecraft. The page is refreshed daily.
Can I see it in the sky?
No. Deep space probes are far too small and far away to see, even with a large telescope.
How do we talk to it?
Through NASA’s Deep Space Network, large radio dishes in California, Spain and Australia.