Telescope Primary Mirror Sizes Compared

Telescope Primary Mirror Sizes Compared

· NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI

In terms of light-gathering capability, the most important component of a telescope is its primary mirror. The larger the mirror, the more light it can collect, and the smaller, dimmer, and more distant objects it can detect. Webb’s mirror has an area more than 5 times greater than Hubble’s and 45 times greater than Spitzer’s.

Credits

Image

STScI

3D Model

NASA, ESA, STScI

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