NASA Added Amazing Alt Text Image Descriptions to James Webb Space Telescope Photos

There was a ton of excitement when the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) was launched into space last month. What made the excitement exponentially larger was when NASA made the first few photos received from JWST public. The pictures were gorgeous and stunning, and the world was captivated by the sheer beauty of our universe as shown by these photos.

These stunning photos, which are a feast for our eyes, were accompanied by something that made sure blind people enjoyed these photos as much as sighted people did – alt text! Now, the alt text attached to these images were not just 1-2 sentences giving a vague description of the images. These were descriptive, poetic, and scientifically accurate. It is clear that the team that wrote them (STCI – Space Telescope Science Institute) put a lot of thought and care into them. 

Take a look at the first few photos from JWST below and their image descriptions. You can also access these descriptions on the JWST website under “Image Description” on the left menu (pdf). The images also have alt text that will be read out loud by your screen reader.

Through these photos, NASA has taught us that alt text is and should not be an afterthought. There are many individuals who are passionate about space, and it only makes sense to provide the rich and detailed experience they deserve through various means that work for them.

Has seeing these detailed descriptions influenced how you will write alt texts in the future? Let us know in the comments below! 

Read more on Washington Post

1 Comments

  1. as a blind consumer, the alt textgave me a great understanding of the picture in two dimemsions. is there away to add the z axies to the txt? as a blind consumer, the alt textgave me a great understanding of the picture in two dimemsions. is there away to add the z axies to the txt?

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