alignment james webb space telescope It has already been completed and has shown its first images. A final inspection proves it can take sharp, well-focused pictures with the four scientific instruments on board.

Following the completion of the seventh and final phase of the telescope’s alignment, the team held a series of key decision meetings. It was passed unanimously by Webb at the meeting. ready to move on to the next and final series preparations known as the commissioning of scientific instruments. This process will take about two months before science operations begin in the summer.

telescope alignment all webb instruments can be seen in a series of images that capture the entire field of view of the observatory.

The telescope’s optical performance continues to be better than the engineering team’s most optimistic estimates. Webb’s mirrors now direct fully focused light collected from space into each instrument. Also, every instrument capturing images successfully by the light given to them.

Image quality given to all instruments is “diffraction limited”. This means that the fineness of detail visible is as good as physically possible given the size of the telescope. The only change in mirrors from this moment there will be periodic adjustments very small in the main mirror sections.

Webb Wavefront Detection and Control Scientist Scott Acton of Ball Aerospace said in a statement. “These images have profoundly changed the way I see the universe. a creation symphony. There are galaxies everywhere. I hope everyone in the world can see them.”

next stage

Now, Webb’s team is turning their attention. instrument commissioning Scientists. Each device is an extremely complex set of detectors equipped with uniquely specialized lenses, masks, filters and equipment that help it realize the science for which it was designed.

Special features of these devices will be configured and operated in various combinations during device commissioning to fully verify. your preparation for science. With the telescope alignment officially complete, key personnel involved in commissioning each instrument arrived at the Mission Operations Center at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore. Some of the personnel involved in the alignment of the telescope have completed their duties.

pending tasks

Although the telescope alignment is complete, it is still some telescope calibration activities. As part of the launch of the science instrument, the telescope will be ordered to point at different areas of the sky. There, the total amount of solar radiation falling on the observatory will vary to verify thermal stability when switching targets.

Also, your observations ongoing care Every other day they will check the alignment of the mirrors and, if necessary, make adjustments to keep the mirrors aligned.

The Webb Space Telescope was made possible by the collaboration of 20 countries that were jointly built and operated by NASA, ESA, and the Canadian Space Agency. It was created to replace the Hubble and Spitzer telescopes.