Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The James Webb Space Telescope, which is actively observing the universe from a million miles away, and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, set to launch in 2026, are NASA's two latest flagship astrophysics observatories. Although both are studying myriad cosmic objects to answer fundamental questions about our universe, they have very different designs and capabilities. The universe is such a vast and complex place that it takes many telescopes with different abilities to thoroughly study it. This four-part video series explores the differences and synergies of Roman and Webb.
Webb’s giant mirror, ultracold instruments and infrared vision help it observe the farthest observable reaches of the cosmos. Using its narrow field of view, it can measure distant galaxies and planets outside our solar system with unprecedented detail.
Roman has a large field of view and will capture giant, 300-megapixel images, enabling it to survey the sky 1,000 times faster than the Hubble Space Telescope can while maintaining resolution similar to Hubble’s. Roman will also observe regions repeatedly over time, allowing astronomers to see changes and detect transient events like exploding stars and the movement of planets near the center of our galaxy.
Learn more at science.nasa.gov/roman-and-webb
Music credit: “Light Trails,” Max Cameron Concors [ASCAP], Universal Production Music “Relentless Data,” Jay Price [PRS], Universal Production Music
Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Scott Wiessinger (eMITS): Producer/editor
Barb Mattson (University of Maryland College Park): Narrator
Scott Wiessinger (eMITS): Writer
Ashley Balzer (eMITS): Science Writer
Francis Reddy (University of Maryland College Park):Science Writer
Claire Andreoli (NASA/GSFC): Public Affairs Officer
Adriana Manrique Gutierrez (eMITS): Animator
Scott Wiessinger (eMITS): Animator
Krystofer Kim (eMITS): Animator
Jenny McElligott (Advocates in Manpower Management, Inc.): Animator
Jonathan North (eMITS): Animator
Chris Smith (KBRWyle): Animator
Dominic Benford (NASA/HQ): Science Advisor
Rob Zellem (NASA/GSFC): Science Advisor
This video can be freely shared and downloaded at svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14891. While the video in its entirety can be shared without permission, the music and some individual imagery may have been obtained through permission and may not be excised or remixed in other products. Specific details on such imagery may be found here: svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14891. For more information on NASA’s media guidelines, visit nasa.gov/nasa-brand-center/images-and-media/.
If you liked this video, subscribe to the NASA Goddard YouTube channel: youtube.com/NASAGoddard
Follow NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
· Instagram: instagram.com/nasagoddard
· X: twitter.com/NASAGoddard
· Facebook: facebook.com/NASAGoddard
· Flickr: flickr.com/photos/gsfc
The James Webb Space Telescope, which is actively observing the universe from a million miles away, and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, set to launch in 2026, are NASA's two latest flagship astrophysics observatories. Although both are studying myriad cosmic objects to answer fundamental questions about our universe, they have very different designs and capabilities. The universe is such a vast and complex place that it takes many telescopes with different abilities to thoroughly study it. This four-part video series explores the differences and synergies of Roman and Webb.
Webb’s giant mirror, ultracold instruments and infrared vision help it observe the farthest observable reaches of the cosmos. Using its narrow field of view, it can measure distant galaxies and planets outside our solar system with unprecedented detail.
Roman has a large field of view and will capture giant, 300-megapixel images, enabling it to survey the sky 1,000 times faster than the Hubble Space Telescope can while maintaining resolution similar to Hubble’s. Roman will also observe regions repeatedly over time, allowing astronomers to see changes and detect transient events like exploding stars and the movement of planets near the center of our galaxy.
Learn more at science.nasa.gov/roman-and-webb
Music credit: “Light Trails,” Max Cameron Concors [ASCAP], Universal Production Music “Relentless Data,” Jay Price [PRS], Universal Production Music
Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Scott Wiessinger (eMITS): Producer/editor
Barb Mattson (University of Maryland College Park): Narrator
Scott Wiessinger (eMITS): Writer
Ashley Balzer (eMITS): Science Writer
Francis Reddy (University of Maryland College Park):Science Writer
Claire Andreoli (NASA/GSFC): Public Affairs Officer
Adriana Manrique Gutierrez (eMITS): Animator
Scott Wiessinger (eMITS): Animator
Krystofer Kim (eMITS): Animator
Jenny McElligott (Advocates in Manpower Management, Inc.): Animator
Jonathan North (eMITS): Animator
Chris Smith (KBRWyle): Animator
Dominic Benford (NASA/HQ): Science Advisor
Rob Zellem (NASA/GSFC): Science Advisor
This video can be freely shared and downloaded at svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14891. While the video in its entirety can be shared without permission, the music and some individual imagery may have been obtained through permission and may not be excised or remixed in other products. Specific details on such imagery may be found here: svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14891. For more information on NASA’s media guidelines, visit nasa.gov/nasa-brand-center/images-and-media/.
If you liked this video, subscribe to the NASA Goddard YouTube channel: youtube.com/NASAGoddard
Follow NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
· Instagram: instagram.com/nasagoddard
· X: twitter.com/NASAGoddard
· Facebook: facebook.com/NASAGoddard
· Flickr: flickr.com/photos/gsfc
