Bright stars create unique patterns called diffraction spikes, which are produced as light bends around the sharp edges of a telescope. Most reflecting telescopes—including #NASAWebb—show spikes as light interacts with the primary mirror and struts that support the mirror. (1/5) Diagram labeled “Webb’s Diffraction Spikes.” The top r
Light—which has wave-like properties—tends to radiate from a point outward. When light waves interact, they can either become more amplified or cancel each other out. These areas of amplification and cancellation form the light and dark spots in diffraction patterns. (2/5) Diagram headlined “How Does Diffraction Happen?” Underne
Primary mirrors in reflecting telescopes cause light waves to interact as they direct light to the secondary mirror. So, even if a telescope had no struts, it would still create a diffraction pattern. The shape of the mirror and any edges it has determine its pattern. (3/5) Diagram headlined, “Primary Mirror Influence.” Below thi
The number and position of struts holding up the secondary mirror determine the struts’ diffraction spike pattern. When light hits a strut, the light bends into a single, perpendicular pattern of amplified and cancelled light—represented by a yellow/red/blue dashed lines. (4/5) Diagram headlined, “Strut Influence.” Webb’s eight-poi
#NASAWebb’s eight-pointed diffraction spikes are defined by its primary mirror and three struts. Its struts are designed to overlap with the diffraction spikes created by the hexagonal mirrors.

Full “Diffraction Spikes” graphic: webbtelescope.pub/DiffractionSpi…

#UnfoldTheUniverse Diagram headlined, “Webb’s Eight-Pointed Stars.” At th

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More from @SpaceTelescope

Mar 13, 2023
How does a young dust grain survive the rigors of space and find its destiny? You decide! Below, choose a path for the dust grain and discover the adventures and perils that await! Results for the next step tomorrow. #DestinyofDust Image
START: Your story begins with two stars orbiting each other. The more massive star is super-hot and nearing the end of its lifecycle. Strong winds from the stars collide and cool, and you find yourself surrounded by sibling grains of dust swirling. ImageImage
The adventure begins! What do we want to do? You decide, vote now! #DestinyofDust
Read 12 tweets
Dec 8, 2022
How did up to five stars create the Southern Ring Nebula? Let’s hit “rewind” and replay the interactions that might have created the scene! (1/9) 🧵 A tight cropping of the Sou...
Stars 1 and 2 are the only stars we see in the sixth and final panel above—and in #NASAWebb’s images. The remaining “guests” are stars 3, 4, and 5. They are all much less massive, or far smaller and dimmer, than stars 1 and 2. (2/9) This six-panel illustration...
We start with a wider field. Star 1, the most massive, is the fastest to age and responsible for creating the planetary nebula. Star 2 very slowly orbits star 1. All is relatively quiet. Star 5 orbits star 1 far more tightly. (3/9) In panel 1, a reddish star ...
Read 9 tweets
Aug 25, 2022
BREAKING NEWS: #NASAWebb ushers in a new era of exoplanet science with the first unequivocal detection of CARBON DIOXIDE in a planetary atmosphere outside our solar system. (1/5) 🧵 This illustration shows wha...
After years of preparation and anticipation, exoplanet researchers are ecstatic! The James Webb Space Telescope has captured an astonishingly detailed rainbow of near-infrared starlight filtered through the atmosphere of a hot gas giant 700 light-years away. (2/5)
The transmission spectrum of exoplanet WASP-39 b, based on a single set of measurements made using Webb’s Near-Infrared Spectrograph and analyzed by dozens of scientists, represents a hat trick of firsts ⬇️. (3/5)
Read 5 tweets
Jul 8, 2022
#NASAWebb will soon reveal unprecedented and detailed views of the universe, with the upcoming release of its first full-color images and spectroscopic data! Below is the list of objects that Webb targeted for these first observations, which will be released on July 12. (1/8) An illustration of the James Webb Space Telescope in space,
Carina Nebula: One of the largest and brightest nebulae in the sky, located approximately 7,600 light-years away in the southern constellation Carina. Nebulae are stellar nurseries where stars form. The Carina Nebula is home to many massive stars. (2/8)
WASP-96b (spectrum): A giant planet outside our solar system, composed mainly of gas. The planet, located nearly 1,150 light-years from Earth, orbits its star every 3.4 days. It has about half the mass of Jupiter, and its discovery was announced in 2014. (3/8)
Read 8 tweets
Apr 27, 2022
#NASAWebb will revolutionize our understanding of the lifecycles of stars, starting at the very beginning. Protostars like HH 47 eject light-year-long jets even while accumulating the hydrogen needed to begin nuclear fusion and shine. (1/4)

Credit: NASA. Image
With its powerful infrared sensitivity and resolution, #NASAWebb is capable of peering into star-forming regions across our entire galaxy—like R136—where previous infrared telescopes were limited to dust clouds within our own galactic neighborhood. (2/4)

Credit: NASA/ESA. Image
Sunlike stars end their lives by gently ejecting their outer layers to form what’s known as a planetary nebula. #NASAWebb will look at NGC 6302 and nebulas like it to learn how chemical elements are recycled throughout our galaxy. (3/4)

Credit: NASA/ESA. Image
Read 4 tweets
Mar 18, 2022
Who is ready to be “thrown” through a loop? A supermassive black hole’s feedback loop to be exact! Decoder: In these images, RED indicates COLD and TEAL indicates HOT. (1/7)
Supermassive black holes, which lie at the centers of galaxies, are voracious! They periodically “sip” or “gulp” from COLD swirling disks of gas and dust that orbit them. Where there’s lots of very cold gas, stars can begin to form—but it also falls onto the black hole. (2/7)
As a result of “nom, nom, noming” on all that delicious cold gas, supermassive black holes launch outflows in the form of radiation, jets, and wind! (It’s gettin’ hot in here!) (3/7)
Read 7 tweets

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