Animation shows unfolding of James Webb telescope mirrors in real time

The final set of mirrors on the revolutionary James Webb Space Telescope were unfolded on 8 January. Animation based on real-time telemetry from the telescope showed a column of hexagonal mirrors unfolding and then latching into the main section of the telescope's mirrored surface.

The telescope, built to give the world its first glimpse of the universe as it existed when the earliest galaxies formed, was launched by rocket on 25 December from the north-eastern coast of South America, opening a new era of astronomy. The new telescope's primary mirror – consisting of 18 hexagonal segments of gold-coated beryllium metal – also has a much bigger light-collecting area, enabling it to observe objects at greater distances, thus farther back into time, than Hubble or any other telescope.

Webb's instruments also make it ideal to search for evidence of potentially life-supporting atmospheres around scores of newly documented exoplanets – celestial bodies orbiting distant stars – and to observe worlds much closer to home, such as Mars and Saturn's icy moon Titan.

[michaelc]

The great thing about animations is THEY MOVE!

[stevegrim]

I'm very interested in this telescope and what it can do. I do have a problem with this clip though. Animation is supposed to show movement and there was none.

[grantcallahan]

Let's see if NASA can "overcome the challenges" of making an animation.

[gerryd]

Its crazy spending billions in space but can't even look after earth 🤣🤣🤣

[wakey]

I had to look up where it was launched from because the description totaly avoided telling me what country it was.

[superconductorchip]

Fantastic Animation you said it Animation.
Smoke and Mirrors that's all it is....

[donpelvito]

I don't ever think of the Rona when it's a video about a telescope

[driver]

flat earthers: it's not a real
also flat earthers: talking snakes are real

[donkey]

If this was so hard to make, how easy would it have been to put a tiny camera on there so we could have seen it unfold properly or seen it getting to its final destination????

[SPACETVnet]

Finally! Now we just have to play the waiting game.

[KrisRoberts]

Why not show the real thing, surely if it can beam back images of space it can show images of itself on another camera??

[empathicparadox]

People ares still fooled by this theatre.

[Jah_Babylon]

hurgur hurgur derger derger, hivvel be, shiver me timbers

[Quietrange]

Let's he realistic here. Shall we?

[gasmo]

Wow that’s amazing!!! Except not really.

[empathicparadox]

Nothing can make it past the firmament. But hey, let’s watch some make believe.

[AldenDoble]

This deployment milestone was an incredible feat and a huge achievement for humanity. But the guardian have treated it like it was nothing special, and as a result have summond all the uneducated space denying delinquents in the comments.
What a mess 😔

[wayland]

So this is what it would really look like if it were real?

[whirledpeas]

Why bring up covid ? People who are passionate and dedicated are too focused (pun intended) on the goal to be chickenshits.

[waynewillsonj]

Looks like saas bahu speaking about telescope BETA software feminists in space business and global merchandising space business using a telescopic rod extension ixpee