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SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/aero-webb-at-l2

Where does the James Webb Space Telescope do its work?

Near L2, a Lagrange point almost a million miles from Earth.

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  1. In low orbit next to the space station
  2. On the far side of the Moon
  3. Near L2, almost a million miles from Earth ✔

Why: Webb orbits the Sun near the second Lagrange point, L2. There, gravity from the Sun and Earth lets it keep pace with Earth, and its sunshield can block light and heat from the Sun, Earth and Moon.

Huh, didn't know that: At Lagrange points, the pull of two big bodies balances what a small object needs to move along with them.

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Why does Webb live so far away? It really needed some cool personal space.
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References

Answer: Near L2, almost a million miles from Earth. Webb orbits the Sun near the second Lagrange point, L2. There, gravity from the Sun and Earth lets it keep pace with Earth, and its sunshield can block light and heat from the Sun, Earth and Moon.

  1. NASA Science, Webb Orbit science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/orbit
    Webb orbits the sun 1.5 million kilometers (1 million miles) away from the Earth at what is called the second Lagrange point or L2.
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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