This graphic compares the capabilities of ground-based telescopes, various Hubble instruments and the future James Webb Space Telescope to study the distant, early Universe. Before Hubble was launched, ground-based telescopes were able to observe up to a redshift of around 1, about half way back through cosmic history. Hubble’s latest instrument, the Wide Field Camera 3 has observed to a redshift of 10 — around 96 per cent of the way back to the Big Bang. The forthcoming NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope will see further still.
This graphic will form part of the "The Living Universe" exhibition, to be displayed at the ESO Supernova.