Which statement correctly describes the James Webb Space Telescope?

• A. It orbits Earth in low Earth orbit.
• B. It is designed to observe only the solar system.
• C. It is a ground-based telescope located in Chile.
• D. It orbits the Sun near the second Lagrange point and is about 1.5 million kilometers from Earth.

Answer: (D)

JWST sits at the Sun–Earth L2 point, about 1.5 million kilometers from Earth, in a halo orbit around that point. This placement is chosen because it keeps the telescope in a stable, cold environment ideal for infrared observations, with a sunshield permanently blocking direct sunlight and Earthlight. Being at L2 also helps keep Earth and Moon out of the immediate field of view for long exposures and provides a relatively clean, unobstructed view of deep space, while still allowing reliable communications with Earth. The telescope effectively travels with Earth around the Sun, maintaining a predictable distance and orientation that support continuous observing time and thermal stability.

It isn’t in low Earth orbit, so it isn’t orbiting close to Earth. It isn’t a ground-based telescope located in Chile, so it isn’t affected by Earth's atmosphere and weather. And while it can study objects in our solar system, its primary power lies in observing distant galaxies, the early universe, and exoplanets—far beyond just the solar system.