JWST’s eight-pointed diffraction spikes are made by... | Kelly Lepo

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JWST’s eight-pointed diffraction spikes are made by two overlapping, 6-pointed patterns, a stronger one from the mirror and a fainter one from the struts. (6/7)

Webb’s Eight-Pointed Stars. A diagram shows how the two diffraction patterns overlap: “Strut Influence" a smaller, squished, 6 pointed star and "primary mirror influence", a larger, evenly spaced, 6-pointed star. Four of the "strut Influence" spikes overlap with the "primary mirror influence" spikes. The the horizontal "strut Influence" spikes do not overlap. The same is true for the vertical "primary mirror influence" spikes. The combination of the two patterns makes an 8-pointed star.

Like 8 Nov 2022 at 19:31 | Open on astrodon.social

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