Webb Instrument Overview

The James Webb Space Telescope is a sophisticated collection of instruments designed to explore key questions in astrophysics. It features four main instruments: the Near Infrared Camera (NIRCam), Near Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec), Mid Infrared Instrument (MIRI), and the Near Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph. Each instrument has unique capabilities, such as imaging early stars and galaxies, analyzing light spectra to determine object properties, and searching for planets and cosmic dust. The telescope's advanced technology, including wavefront sensing and micro shutter arrays, enables high-resolution data collection and precise alignment, making it a groundbreaking tool for space exploration.

What type of light do the instruments on the James Webb Space Telescope primarily observe?

• Ultraviolet light

• Visible light

• Infrared light

• X-ray light

What is the primary role of the Near Infrared Camera (NIRCam) on the James Webb Space Telescope?

• To measure cosmic microwave background radiation

• To detect gravitational waves

• To observe the formation of early stars and galaxies

• To study the surface of Mars

How does the Near Infrared Camera (NIRCam) help in studying planets around nearby stars?

• By capturing ultraviolet light

• By measuring sound waves

• By blocking light from bright objects

• By using radio waves

What unique technology does the Near Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) use to collect data from distant objects?

• Photon counting

• Quantum entanglement

• Micro shutter array

• Laser interferometry

What is the primary function of the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) on the James Webb Space Telescope?

• To observe longer wavelengths of light

• To study the sun's corona

• To detect black holes

• To map the Earth's surface