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Jan 23 • 4 tweets • 3 min read
1/ The Mid-InfraRed Instrument #MIRI is one of 4 instruments on the James #Webb Space Telescope. The only mid-infrared instrument in its instrument suite. #WebbSeesFarther
📷 NASA/ Chris Gunn
2/ Thanks to state-of-the-art instrument design and components, it will deliver mid-infrared images and spectra with an unprecedented combination of sharpness and sensitivity. #WebbSeesFarther
3/ #MIRI will be capable of penetrating thick layers of dust obscuring regions of intense star birth. It will see the first generations of galaxies to form after the #BigBang, and it will study sites of new planet formation and the composition of the interstellar medium.
4. #MIRI will also observe the light emitted, reflected or transmitted by exoplanets, the planets orbiting stars other than our Sun. #WebbSeesFarther

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More from @ESA_Webb

ESA Webb Telescope Profile picture
Jan 24
1/ While we wait for news on L2 orbit insertion, we've got some facts for you on #Webb's orbit 👇
2/ Unlike @HUBBLE_space #Webb will not be in orbit around the Earth, but will orbit the Sun, 1.5 million km away from the 🌍 at what is called the second Lagrange point or L2.
3/ This orbit lets the telescope stay in line with the Earth as it moves around the Sun. This allows the satellite's large sunshield to protect the telescope from the light and heat of the Sun, Earth and Moon.
Read 16 tweets
ESA Webb Telescope Profile picture
Jan 24
As we approach final destination, let's take a moment to recap all the incredible steps #Webb went through so far. Thread 👇
1/ Webb's journey to space started in French Guiana, at the European Space Port. Here's why this was an ideal launch side for #Webb
2/ On Christmas Day 🎄, @ariane5 made a flawless launch of the James #Webb Space Telescope. #WebbThanksAriane
Read 21 tweets
ESA Webb Telescope Profile picture
Jan 22
1/ #NIRSpec has three modes of operation: multi-object spectroscopy mode, fixed slits spectroscopy mode and integral field spectroscopy mode:
2/ 🔴 multi-object spectroscopy mode — #NIRSpec will be the 1st multi-object spectrograph in space, able to record the spectra of up to 200 objects at the same time. A capability enabled by microshutters.
3/ 🔴 fixed slits spectroscopy mode — #NIRSpec will also be able to carry out single-object, high-contrast spectroscopy using a set of five fixed slits. It will provide high contrast spectra of sources and a key to the study of exoplanets.
Read 4 tweets
ESA Webb Telescope Profile picture
Jan 8
1/ As we wait for full mirror deployment, here are some cool-to-know facts about #Webb 's mirrors.
📷 Northrop Grumman, NASA/Chris Gunn
2/ #Webb has a primary mirror 6.5m across as this is what was needed to measure the light from very young galaxies 🌀 over 13 billion light years away.
3/ A mirror this large had never before been launched into space! If the @HUBBLE_space 2.4 m glass mirror were scaled to be large enough for #Webb, it would be too heavy to launch into orbit.
Read 16 tweets
ESA Webb Telescope Profile picture
Jan 5
1/ While everyone's eyes were on the shield tensioning, the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) provided by @esa for #Webb also had an important milestone: unlocking the Contamination Control Cover, which had to be locked for launch.
🔗 blogs.nasa.gov/webb/2022/01/0…
🎥 ESA/ATG medialab
@esa 2/ After successfully completing the tests and unlocking the cover, the instrument control electronics were then powered off before the next steps on the sunshield tensioning activities.
@esa 3/ This key step for MIRI was monitored remotely by team members in Europe, ready to provide assistance if it were needed.
Read 5 tweets

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