The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a powerful space observatory designed to observe the universe across a wide range of wavelengths, including the infrared. While the JWST can capture incredibly detailed images of celestial objects, it does not have the capability to zoom in on objects like a webcam on a laptop.
The JWST's instruments are optimized for high-resolution imaging and spectroscopy over a wide field of view, rather than zooming in on specific objects. Its primary mirror has a diameter of 6.5 meters, which allows it to collect a large amount of light and achieve high sensitivity. However, it does not have a variable focal length or a zoom lens that would enable it to zoom in on objects.
The images captured by the JWST will have a level of detail determined by its resolving power, which is related to the size of the telescope's mirror and the wavelength of light being observed. It will provide significantly sharper and more detailed images compared to previous space telescopes, such as the Hubble Space Telescope, particularly in the infrared range.
However, there are limits to the resolution of any telescope. When an object is observed at extremely high magnification, it can eventually become blurry or pixelated due to the inherent limitations of the telescope's optics and the diffraction of light. The exact point at which this blurring occurs depends on factors like the object's distance, the wavelength of light being observed, and the telescope's design.
While the JWST will capture breathtakingly detailed images, there are physical limits to how close it can observe objects before they become fuzzy or pixelated. The telescope's capabilities and limitations are carefully considered and optimized to provide the best possible scientific observations within those constraints.