How can NASA's new telescope see 'back in time' to the beginnings of the universe?

[CrusaderFrank]

Why are we only seeing these scenes now, when some are from billions of years ago?
Light has a limited speed so it genuinely has taken up to 13 billion years for the light generated by some of these galaxies and stars to reach us now.

By comparison, it takes light about 1 second to travel from the moon and 8 minutes from the sun. Therefore, we see the sun as it was 8 minutes ago. If it were to disappear, we would find out 8 minutes later.

MailOnline answers all the big questions about the James Webb photos

MailOnline has spoken to a number of astronomers to get the answers to all the key questions about the James Webb Space Telescope images, which were released by the US space agency this week.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Global Warming

 

[ReinyDays]

There there children ... don't make me get the willow switch ...

 

[toobfreak]

So no, your piddly little telescope wouldn't be able to see what Webb sees, even if you were lucky enough to blast into space.

With a PMT-coupled SCT able to gather the light of a 45-inch aperture, one can see pretty well.