The main component of any visible or infrared telescope is the primary mirror. The purpose of Webb’s 6.6-meter primary mirror is to collect infrared light traveling through space. Mirror on its own: about 20 kg (45 lbs) Full assembly: about 40 kg (90 lbs)Ġ.115 – 2.5 µm (near-ultraviolet to near-infrared) Glass coated with aluminum and magnesium fluorideĢ5.37 m 2 (273.1 ft 2) - 5.6 times Hubble Webb’s extraordinary ability to capture high-resolution images and spectra from extremely dim or distant objects is a function of the size and construction of its primary mirror. The telescope is designed to neatly fold upon itself for launch, then complete a complicated series of steps to unfurl on its way to its observation post a million miles from Earth. Scientists and engineers came up with a creative solution by turning Webb into a piece of enormous origami. The size of the mirror and sunshield present another challenge: Webb must fit into the limited space within a launch vehicle. Webb’s key components include an enormous primary mirror to collect infrared light, a supersized sunshield to keep the telescope cold, and four scientific instruments to conduct its ambitious science operations. Webb’s innovative design tackles the two main challenges for an infrared telescope: It needs a very large mirror to collect enough light, and it has to be kept cold to keep unwanted sources of infrared from interfering with the light being observed. The James Webb Space Telescope is the largest, most complex observatory sent into space. Get the full telescope illustration in Resource Gallery. An illustration of the James Webb Space Telescope.
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