The final image is the result of 18 stacked observatory mirror segments.
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, WASHINGTON — The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is getting closer to starting scientific operations. The telescope’s 18 mirror segments are almost perfectly aligned.
New composite image shared by NASA on Thursday (24/2/2022) showed the telescope was observing a distant star with many mirrors. The images are “stacked” to show how the 18 segments of the observatory mirror are nearly perfectly aligned, all pointing at the same target.
In a statement released Friday (2/25/2022), NASA noted that the JWST team has successfully worked through the second and third phases of a total of seven phases. That is, the mirror alignment process is roughly half way through.
The goal is to stack mirror reflections to produce one incredible high-definition image of a star, a tantalizing prospect that scientists have been waiting for for decades.
“We still have work to do, but we are increasingly pleased with the results we are seeing,” said Lee Feinberg, JWST optical telescope element manager in a statement. FuturismSunday (27/2/2022).
“Years of planning and testing are paying off, and the team is very excited to see what will happen in the weeks and months ahead.”
So far, previous photos published by the JWST team have shown the same star reflected 18 times by each of the telescope’s mirrors—a dazzling kaleidoscope effect. However, this photo is not the final product. Since its launch on Christmas Day last year—following a long and billion-dollar delay—progress telescope James Webb has delighted scientists and beginners alike.
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