First colour image from JWST Today at 10pm

jpaul said:
so why are their (hexagonal/60degree) radial(e: axial i suppose) light rays off of the stars .. is that an image processing option , consequence of the mirrors symmetry ?
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They said it was something do with the mirrors and unavoidable.

My question though is could JWST be used to target a closer galaxy cluster or even a planet for more detailed images, like for example point it at proxima centauri and maybe get a more detailed image of the system or its planets.
 
MadMossy said:
They said it was something do with the mirrors and unavoidable.

My question though is could JWST be used to target a closer galaxy cluster or even a planet for more detailed images, like for example point it at proxima centauri and maybe get a more detailed image of the system or its planets.
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I don't believe directly imaging exoplanets is ever going to be viable.....although I guess gas giants around a red dwarf of something might be possible.

The presence of exoplanets is all inferred from gravitational effects or them eclipsing their parents star.

The interesting stuff will be when it images the exoplanet systems, as it will be able to analyse the atmospheric makeup of them.....
 
MadMossy said:
They said it was something do with the mirrors and unavoidable.
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ok yes - https://www.universetoday.com/15506...ut-of-jwsts-test-image-heres-why-they-happen/
The key to diffraction spikes, writes Baird, is that the secondary mirror (or sensor) is held in place over the primary mirror by support rods (aka. struts or vanes), which obstruct the incoming light. As starlight enters the telescope and heads towards the primary mirror, some of it skims past the support rods and is slightly deflected. This diffraction ultimately shifts light in the final image, forming a “spider” that conforms to the position of the support rods (not the original image).

“For stars and other bright point sources of light, this shifted light pattern takes the form of radial spikes,” adds Baird. “When the support rods of a telescope’s secondary mirror are built in a nice, symmetrical cross pattern, the diffraction spikes in the image of the star takes on the same cross pattern.”
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SexyGreyFox said:
Also Brian Cox said this morning that the picture that has been taken is like holding a grain of sand at arms length and that's the area we are seeing.
Awesome.
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That was said by the NASA guy last night trying to explain it to Biden, a grain of sand on the tip of your finger at arms length :)
 
SexyGreyFox said:
Gone over it a million times on these forums, not going to repeat but I'll give you two words - Fermi Paradox.
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Yeah, never mind the distances involved, it's the time, too...these pictures we are looking are snapshots from billions of years ago. If we did see aliens in these pics, chances are they are long since extinct.
 
mattyfez said:
Yeah, never mind the distances involved, it's the time, too...these pictures we are looking are snapshots from billions of years ago. If we did see aliens in these pics, chances are they are long since extinct.
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Maybe they hadn't evolved or invented detectable technology when they took the photo
 
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