The Countdown Has Begun for the First Photograph of the James Webb Telescope

After completing two additional mirror alignment steps in March 2022, the team confirmed that the James Webb Space Telescope's optical performance could meet or exceed the science goals the observatory was built to achieve.

This “selfie” was created using a special student imaging lens within Webb's Near Infrared Camera, or NIRCam tool, designed to capture images of primary mirror segments rather than images of the sky.

This configuration is not used during scientific operations, but strictly for engineering and alignment purposes. This image shows all 18 of Webb's primary mirror fragments collecting light together from the same star.

We are now counting down to release the Webb Telescope's first full-color images and spectroscopic data during a broadcast that will begin at 12:10 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, July 30.

We will continue to give you news from James Webb by reminding you.

Countdown link here .

Source: https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/mirrors-aligned-webb-telescope-s-first-full-color-images-due-in-july

📩 29/06/2022 11:38