NASA's work to align the James Webb Space Telescope is extending to more instruments

[Admin]

After James Webb Space Telescope officials released a stunning image of a single star, the team is ready to get other telescope parts in line with the observatory's mirrors.

NASA's work to align the James Webb Space Telescope is extending to more instruments : Read more

 

[JoshuaNeilRubin]

Alignment - What an amazing image!

Here's an odd part of it.

http://www.jnrubin.net/psi/images/obstruct.png

Does anybody with optical chops know why the virtual diffraction beam in this part seems to be partially blocked? Even if the dark object is between Webb and the star, why would it negate the beam?

 

[COLGeek]

I would speculate that not all configuration is complete and that it may be premature to assume anything other than that causing the apparent artifact.

What is the source of your image?

 

[JoshuaNeilRubin]

 

[JoshuaNeilRubin]

Another anomaly - a virtual diffraction pattern with no obvious source:

 

[JoshuaNeilRubin]

And in the last one, an artifact at the top with a dark source.

 

[billslugg]

Could be a coronagraph blocking the star. They have all different sizes of black dots they can place over any target they want.