2MASS J17554042 6551277
Explanation:
2MASS
J17554042+6551277
doesn't exactly roll off the tongue but that's
the name, a coordinate-based catalog designation, of the star centered in
this sharp field of view.
Fans
of the distant universe
should get used to its spiky appearance
though.
The diffraction pattern is created by the 18 hexagonal mirror segments
of the
James
Webb Space Telescope.
After unfolding, the segments have now been adjusted to
achieve
a diffraction limited alignment
at infrared wavelengths while
operating in concert
as a single 6.5 meter diameter primary mirror.
The resulting image taken by Webb's NIRcam demonstrates their precise
alignment is the best
physics will allow.
2MASS J17554042+6551277 is about 2,000 light-years away
and well within our own galaxy.
But the galaxies scattered across the background of
the Webb telescope alignment evaluation image
are likely billions of light-years distant, far
beyond the Milky Way.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
