HWO is a large infrared/optical/ultraviolet space telescope recommended by the National Academies’ Pathways to Discovery in Astronomy and Astrophysics for the 2020s.
The Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) will be a large ultraviolet, optical, infrared space telescope. It will be the first specifically engineered to identify habitable, Earth-like planets next to relatively bright stars like our Sun with a coronagraph, and examine them for evidence of life.
The Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) is a future flagship space telescope for NASA Astrophysics that will build on the achievements of the Hubble, Webb, and Roman Space Observatories.
NASA’s Habitable Worlds Observatory, or HWO, is a “Super Hubble” telescope that would directly image Earth-size exoplanets circling other stars. Using a JWST-size mirror and ultra-precise optics, HWO would scrutinize the atmospheres of these worlds for signs of life.
The Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) represents a significant step in the field of astronomy and astrobiology. It is a proposed space telescope, designed with the primary goal of detecting and studying exoplanets, specifically those that may harbor conditions suitable for life.
Investing now — in both technology and workforce development — will position HWO for scientific, technical and programmatic success, and sustain U.S. global leadership at the frontier of space science and exploration in the decades to come.
The Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) is a mission to launch a large space telescope with the main purpose of directly imaging Earth-like planets around stars like our Sun.
By exploring the birth, life, and death of stars, HWO follows the evolution of the elements over cosmic time. HWO will examine the conditions under which stars form, and the processes that drive, regulate, and extinguish star formation in the Milky Way and other galaxies.
Successfully building and launching Roman within budget and on schedule will lay the groundwork for HWO to follow. Once fully developed and launched, HWO will coordinate and collaborate with other NASA space telescopes and ground-based observatories operating at that time.
