WFIRST's Coronagraph Instrument

The video explains how a coronagraph reduces starlight to reveal planets by using complex patterns and deformable mirrors to correct light distortions. Advanced software further processes the data, enhancing image clarity and allowing the observation of planets in star systems similar to our own.

What is the primary function of a coronagraph?

How does the coronagraph create destructive interference with the star's light?

What role do deformable mirrors play in the coronagraph's function?

In what way does advanced software improve the images captured by the coronagraph?

What significance does the W1st mission hold for the study of exoplanets?