LONGUEUIL, Quebec, July 6, 2022 /CNW Telbec/ – The Webb Fine Guidance Sensor (FGS) – developed by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and designed to find and lock on space targets – recently captured a view of stars and galaxies that provides a tantalizing glimpse of what the telescope’s science instruments will reveal in the coming weeks, months and years.
This engineering test image, captured by Webb’s Canadian Fine-Gearing Sensor (FGS) in 72 exposures over 32 hours in May 2022, provides a unique overview of the space observatory’s power. While Webb’s four science instruments will eventually reveal the telescope’s new view of the universe, the FGS is the only element that will be used in every single Webb observation over the life of the mission. (Credit: Canadian Space Agency, NASA, FGS Team) (CNW Group/Canadian Space Agency)
The FGS has always been capable of capturing images, but its primary purpose is to enable precise scientific measurements and precisely targeted imaging. When it captures images, the images are usually not saved: given the limited bandwidth of communication between L2 and Earth, Webb only sends data from up to two science instruments at a time. But during a week-long stability test in May, it occurred to the team that they could keep the captured images because there was bandwidth available to transfer data.
See full image and caption. (Courtesy: NASA, CSA and FGS team)
Read more on our James Webb Space Telescope news page.
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