---
title: Astronomy Alum Brings Webb Telescope’s Images to Light
date: 2025-04-03T05:30:00-04:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/astronomy-alum-brings-webb-telescopes-images-to-light"
section: Articles
---
# Astronomy Alum Brings Webb Telescope’s Images to Light

*April 3, 2025* — by [Emily C. Nunez](/author/emily-c-nunez)


> Science ‘Visualizer’ Puts the Color and Sparkle in Cosmic Imagery


Alyssa Pagan ’16 doesn’t remember exactly when or where she first fell in love with the night sky on some cloudless evening in her youth—just the awe she felt at the vast panorama of space.

“It was mind-blowing for me to realize that all those points are stars, and those stars potentially have planets of their own,” she said.


*Alyssa Pagan headshot — Alyssa Pagan ’16*


*cosmic cliffs — The Cosmic Cliffs region of the Carina Nebula reveals a early star formation. It was one of the first James Webb Space Telescope images to be made public in 2022. (Image credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI)*


*pillars of creation in space — The full image of the Pillars of Creation, a region of star formation in the Eagle Nebula. \[Image credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI; Joseph DePasquale (STScI), Anton M. Koekemoer (STScI), Alyssa Pagan (STScI)\]*




**Topics:** [People](https://today.umd.edu/tags/people)


**Tags:** [Alumni](https://today.umd.edu/topic/alumni), [Astronomy](https://today.umd.edu/topic/astronomy), [Visual Arts](https://today.umd.edu/topic/visual-arts)


**Units:** [College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences](https://today.umd.edu/topic/college-computer-mathematical-and-natural-sciences)