For a visual tour, start with NASA’s Hubble galleries and activities. To find telescope observations and downloadable science files—including JWST data—use the Space Telescope Science Institute’s MAST archive. You can begin in a browser: you do not need a telescope, an account for public JWST data, or coding experience.
Choose between a visual tour and archive data
A finished gallery image and an archive data product are made for different purposes. NASA’s Hubble multimedia page and Hubble image gallery are approachable places to browse striking imagery, tours, videos, sonifications, e-books, printables, and activities. They help you discover objects and learn what you are seeing.
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For observations, previews, metadata, and science files, use the Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes (MAST), operated by the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI). MAST includes JWST data and data from other hosted missions, so it is also useful when you want to search across missions rather than browse a single gallery. STScI documents the MAST Portal and a JWST-specific browser search as ways to search and retrieve data.
| What you want to do | Start here | What you get | What to keep in mind |
|---|---|---|---|
| See explained Hubble imagery | NASA Hubble Multimedia or Hubble Images | Curated images, tours, activities, videos, sonifications, e-books, and printables | A gallery is not a substitute for locating an observation-level data product. |
| Find observations and files | MAST Portal or JWST Mission Search, described in STScI’s MAST Web Access guide | Browser-based search, previews, observation selection, and data retrieval | Product types and access status take some getting used to. |
| Repeat searches or work at scale | MAST APIs and the Astroquery MAST tutorial | Scriptable queries and retrieval | Useful for repeatable or large-scale work, but requires coding familiarity. |
| Compare an object with a backyard view | NASA’s Explore the Night Sky activity | An optional way to compare a telescope or binocular view with Hubble’s view | Equipment is not needed to explore archive files, and visibility depends on the object and observing conditions. |
Browse Hubble images without downloading science files
If your goal is to see what Hubble has observed, browse NASA’s image galleries or multimedia activities first. These are curated for exploration and explanation, rather than being a directory of every exposure and file associated with an observation. NASA’s Explore the Night Sky activity also invites you to zoom in on a cosmic object and compare Hubble’s view with what you might see from the ground.
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A telescope or binoculars are optional for that comparison. You can explore the galleries and use MAST without observing the sky yourself.
Find a JWST or Hubble observation in MAST
- Open a browser interface. Use the MAST Portal for a cross-mission search, or follow STScI’s MAST Web Access documentation to use the JWST Mission Search. Interface details can change, so consult the current guide if a screen does not match what you expect.
- Search for a familiar target. Enter an object name or a sky position. A target may have observations from multiple missions, instruments, or observing programs, so check the mission and observation details rather than assuming every result is JWST or Hubble.
- Inspect results before choosing files. Review observation information and available footprints or previews to see where the observation falls on the sky and what it covers. A preview helps orient you; it is not necessarily the science file you will want to analyze.
- Check the access status. Public JWST data can be searched and retrieved without signing in. Some newer observations remain restricted during an exclusive access period; retrieving those requires authorization as an eligible program member.
- Select and retrieve a product. Use the browser tools to select the file or files relevant to your goal and retrieve them. For public data, a MyST account is not required for basic search or download.
STScI’s JWST User Documentation, in “Accessing JWST Data,” states: “A MyST account is not required to search, view, explore with MAST tools, or retrieve data that have been released to the public.” Public data does not mean every observation is already public; restricted data remain available only to authorized people during the applicable exclusive access period.
Choose a data product that matches your question
An archive “image” might mean a public-facing processed picture, an observation preview, a calibrated science image, or an uncalibrated exposure. Not every file is a ready-made colorful picture. JWST archive holdings include calibrated images and mosaics, source catalogs, spectra, data cubes, raw exposures, engineering files, and other material.
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Start with a calibrated image or mosaic. STScI describes calibrated products as an excellent entry point and says they generally suffice for basic analyses. A mosaic combines observations into a larger image; it is often the most convenient choice when you want to inspect a target visually.
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For sources, spectra, or spatially changing measurements
- Source catalogs list detected objects and associated measurements, making them a better starting point than an image alone when your question concerns identified sources.
- Extracted spectra represent light measured across wavelengths and suit questions about an object’s spectral features.
- Data cubes contain measurements with a spatial and spectral dimension, so they can be useful when you need to examine how a spectrum varies across a target.
When raw files or reprocessing make sense
Raw exposures and custom reprocessing are available for users with a specific reason to work closer to the observing and calibration steps. They add complexity and are not required for a first exploration; STScI notes that expert reprocessing is generally for needs tied to a particular science case. See “Getting Started with JWST Data” for product guidance and links to further documentation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Use the browser first; add code when it helps
MAST’s browser tools support searching, previewing, selecting, and retrieving data, which is enough for many first searches. You do not need Python to find a target and download a public product. If you later need repeatable queries, large downloads, or a scripted workflow, explore the MAST APIs or the Astroquery MAST tutorial.
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For a serious project or a result you plan to share, keep track of the archive product and tools used. STScI’s JWST getting-started guidance links to instructions for citing JWST data and software.
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- Hardcover journal with 240 line-ruled pages (120 sheets)
- Built-in elastic closure and ribbon bookmark
- Includes an expandable inner storage pocket and a pen holder
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