Webb has Now Taken the Sharpest Image the Laws of Physics Allow

In a briefing today, officials said that the optical performance of the telescope appears to be better than the most optimistic predictions.

A new engineering image shows the star 2MASS J17554042+6551277 in crisp clarity. This image shows that all 18 mirror segments have been aligned to act as one giant, high-precision 6.5-meter (21.3-foot) primary telescope mirror.

The deputy project scientist for the Space Telescope Science Institute said that they have achieved what is called diffraction limited alignment.

If you look closely at the image, you can see the background galaxies similar to the ones taken by the Hubble Space Telescope.

The engineering images are as sharp and crisp as images that Hubble can take.

The team still needs to dial in small adjustments to bring the telescope to even more exquisite sharpness, but it is an absolute thrill to say that everything has worked. At no point during the process did we have any issues with the deployment, and while there were some surprises in the data, the outcomes are far closer to our hoped-for predictions than we could have expected.

The alignment process consists of seven steps and three months.

Lee Feinberg, the optical telescope element manager, said that the images came down over the weekend. The optical performance of the telescope is amazing.

Feinberg said that taking an image over a long period of time allows the team to assess several aspects of the telescope's performance. The systems are working well too. The fine guidance sensors and reaction wheels allow the telescope to point precisely and stay on target.

Feinberg said that the observatory is working because of a picture of a star.