JWST's MIRI instrument experiences recurring issues.

1 min read
Source: Phys.org
JWST's MIRI instrument experiences recurring issues.
Photo: Phys.org
TL;DR

NASA has detected a sensor glitch associated with the James Webb Space Telescope's Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) during regular calibration and monitoring. The glitch is related to MIRI's Medium Resolution Spectroscopy (MRS) mode, which is receiving less light than expected at the longest wavelengths. MIRI observations will continue as planned, and engineers are investigating the cause and exploring mitigations to improve performance. One possible work-around strategy includes taking slightly longer exposures when observing at the longer wavelengths to increase the signal to noise.

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