NIRCam Alignment Selfie

In this striking engineering image, taken in early 2022, the James Webb Space Telescope captures a “selfie” of its 18 primary mirror segments, all working in unison for the first time. Taken with a specialized lens inside the Near Infrared Camera (NIRCam), this view isn't intended for science but for confirming alignment. The unique optical setup, used only during commissioning, allows engineers to see that each mirror segment is now precisely oriented and collecting light from the same distant star. Earlier in the process, unaligned mirrors produced 18 scattered points of starlight. Now, with alignment achieved, the segments function as a single, coherent mirror—an essential milestone. This image is more than just a selfie; it’s a proof of precision and a gateway to deep space exploration. With NIRCam aligned and ready, Webb is prepared to begin its scientific mission: revealing the universe with clarity never before possible. Compare with Webb's first (pre-alignment) "selfie".