Data From Infrared Telescope Exceeds Expectations

Uosdwis writes "It's just Day 10 for the Space Infrared Telescope Facility, and it is producing data! This is only a calibration image, but look at this data set. "We're extremely pleased, because these first images have exceeded our expectations," said Dr. Michael Werner. This data is from IRAC at the shorter wavelengths as the telescope is still cooling. The official press release here."

Comments

Re:Triangle shaped

[Zachary Kessin]

I'm just guessing here, but I would bet it is a function of the mapping from the original data to much lower resolution they posted on the web.

If you look at the high res image much of that goes away. Also note this is a camera working at the very limits of what people can design.

It's a rough ride to orbit

[Spamalamadingdong]

why would you need an active focusing mirror when there's no atmosphere and the targets are all at infinity???

Because the spacecraft gets jostled and buffetted a lot on the way up, and things aren't always in the same relationship at the end of the trip as they were on the ground. Little things like the absence of gravity influence things too. Being able to tweak stuff after launch is probably a lot cheaper and more reliable than building everything heavy enough to be exactly the same before and after.