NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Completely Aligned, Fully Focused (newatlas.com) 31
Scientists working on NASA's James Webb Telescope have reached an important milestone, completely aligning the space observatory's massive mirrors. New Atlas reports: The achievement means the team can now move ahead with configuring the onboard instruments and prepare them to begin capturing sharp and in-focus images of the cosmos. Back in January, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) finished deploying its set of 18 mirrors, which it will use to direct light from cosmic objects onto its instruments to capture images. But to do so, the mirrors had to be precisely aligned over a three-month period in order to focus that light correctly. In March, the mirrors were brought into alignment with the telescope's primary imaging instrument, the Near-Infrared Camera, enabling it to focus and snap a crystal-clear image of a bright star. The team then continued aligning the mirrors with the JWST's remaining instruments, the Near-Infrared Spectrograph, Mid-Infrared Instrument, and Near Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph -- a task that is now complete.
The team confirmed the mirrors were aligned and directing light onto the JWST's four instruments by capturing a set of test images covering the telescope's full-field of view [...]. The scientists say the optical performance of the telescope continues to exceed even their most optimistic expectations. With the mirrors now in position (save for some slight periodic adjustments here and there), the scientists are now turning their attention to commissioning of the science instruments. The unique lenses, masks, filters and other gear that make these highly sophisticated instruments tick will need to be precisely configured over the next two months, to ready the telescope for the start of its science operations in the middle of the year.
The team confirmed the mirrors were aligned and directing light onto the JWST's four instruments by capturing a set of test images covering the telescope's full-field of view [...]. The scientists say the optical performance of the telescope continues to exceed even their most optimistic expectations. With the mirrors now in position (save for some slight periodic adjustments here and there), the scientists are now turning their attention to commissioning of the science instruments. The unique lenses, masks, filters and other gear that make these highly sophisticated instruments tick will need to be precisely configured over the next two months, to ready the telescope for the start of its science operations in the middle of the year.
Re:First post of the galaxy?? (Score:5, Informative)
Take a look at the image comparison with previous infrared space telescopes. Amazing!
https://bigthink.com/starts-wi... [bigthink.com]
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There is one in space right now, just go and get it. If you can do that, you definitely deserve to keep it.
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point on the star chart where the telescope hurt you.
Re: Fully aligned with the latest woke speak perha (Score:2)
Just the tip.
This is (Score:3)
pretty awesome!
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Great Start (Score:2)
Re:Great Start (Score:5, Interesting)
We can already see new stars and galaxies in the alignment images. Methinks you're not really paying attention. :)
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Methinks you don't understand that important scientific discoveries often hide in apparently unremarkable data. We're going to have lots more of that.
You probably do. I just wanted to perpetuate the "methinks" carrier.
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It was important to Clyde Tombaugh in 1931, after manually combing through thousands of starfield photos taken weeks before, and finding a single "star" apparently moving against the rest of the stars.
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It depends on the star and its location.
i.e. it depends on whether there is an important discovery there to be made. The JWST is an amazing new tool but ultimately how important any discoveries it makes is determined by what discoveries are within reach of its capabilities and that's not something we control.
You have all but confirmed that you do not.
If you think seeing a random new star in an alignment image is likely to be of great scientific importance then I'd suggest you recalibrate your understanding of "great scientific importance". That's not to say that the JWST isn't likely to
Happy to be Wrong! (Score:3)
I thought that the endless delays were indicative of deeper problems, but it's great to see they managed this, especially at a Lagrange point. Truly next level.
Scotty's advice to Geordi (Score:5, Informative)
https://scifi.stackexchange.co... [stackexchange.com]
Dude, the alignment was supposed to take until now, and there is also Scotty's advice to Geordi on padding estimates of completion times.
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Dude, he's talking about the delays getting the thing launched.
DUH!!!
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Now, if they can just keep the pesky aliens away.. (Score:2)
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We need to deploy a laser cannon to L2 so we can keep the Ferenghi away from our equipment - they'd probably claim salvage rights.
Obligatory (Score:5, Funny)
Now witness the power of this fully aligned and operational telescope!
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Because society can only do one thing at a time, right? Go back to yourr Mother Jones.
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Because society can only do one thing at a time, right?
Unfortunately, that does sometimes seem to be the case. As soon as people's attention moves on to the next shiny news item, they stop caring about the previous one.
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Do you seriously believe that agriculture is not science?!
Do you realize that we are 8 billion on this planet, that's a ridiculously large number of humans, and the reason "only" a billion are starving and not everybody is because of science. Mechanized agriculture, synthetic fertilizers, genetically engineered/selected high yield crops are keeping us alive. Even natural farming methods are based on our understanding of biology to be as productive as they are. We also have a wide array of techniques to keep
Emperor (Score:3)
Now witness the resolution of this fully aligned and operational observation station!!!!
new folder for Space Pictures file (Score:1)