Webb Space Telescope, A Starry Guide to Alignment Desk Mat

Though not the first deep space image from the James Webb Space Telescope, this calibration image holds a special place in history. A single star, captured by Webb's NIRCam instrument, served as a guidepost, its light meticulously analyzed to align the telescope's 18 segments into a single, powerful mirror. This intricate dance between starlight and engineering marvel paved the way for Webb's groundbreaking views of the cosmos, ushering in a new era of astronomical discovery. - This file is in the public domain in the United States because it was solely created by NASA.