Gathering Light

Goals


Model various light paths on the model Near-Infrared Spectrometer (NIRSpec).


Direct the laser beam from the coupling optics to the detector.


Communicate your results to the Team Mission: Stars crew after you finish.

Send Results

A

Model various light paths on the model Near-Infrared Spectrometer (NIRSpec).

A

Direct the laser beam from the coupling optics to the detector.

A

Communicate your results to the Team Mission: Stars crew after you finish.

Send Results

Materials

  • Tablet
  • Model NIRSpec game board
  • NIRSpec telescope parts
    • Coupling Optics
    • Mirrors (6)
    • Filter Wheel
    • Calibration Assembly
    • Detector
  • Tablet
  • Model NIRSpec game board
  • NIRSpec telescope parts
    • Coupling Optics
    • Mirrors (6)
    • Filter Wheel
    • Calibration Assembly
    • Detector

Mission Briefing

  1. Use the model NIRSpec pieces and challenge cards to get the laser beam from the coupling optics to the detector.
    • Coupling Optics: Focuses the starlight into a beam that may be moved around the NIRSpec.
    • Mirror: Bounces the starlight to the correct detector, filters, and other components of the NIRSpec.
    • Filter Wheel: The starlight must go through a filter if this piece is on the challenge card. The filter wheel blocks some light while allowing specific wavelengths to pass through for analysis.
    • Calibration Assembly: Corrects variations produced by the instruments so the data is presented as a whole. The calibration assembly is static (non-moveable) when on the challenge card. The light does not touch the assembly but may move over it.
    • Detector: Absorbs and converts the light into electronic data sent back to NASA to be measured. The detector will light up and make a sound when the starlight is absorbed.
  2. Choose a challenge card here.
  3. Place each component of the telescope onto the board as indicated on the card.
  4. Add the specific telescope parts to the board.
  5. Move the pieces around until the starlight reaches the detector!
  6. Keep working through the different challenges. How many can you figure out? 
  7. Check out the GeoGebra link in the “Exploring Further” section below to get a mathematical understanding of how the parts interact. 
  8. Communicate your results to the Team Mission: Stars crew after you finish.


Send Results

  1. Use the model NIRSpec pieces and challenge cards to get the laser beam from the coupling optics to the detector.
    • Coupling Optics: Focuses the starlight into a beam that may be moved around the NIRSpec.
    • Mirror: Bounces the starlight to the correct detector, filters, and other components of the NIRSpec.
    • Filter Wheel: The starlight must go through a filter if this piece is on the challenge card. The filter wheel blocks some light while allowing specific wavelengths to pass through for analysis.
    • Calibration Assembly: Corrects variations produced by the instruments so the data is presented as a whole. The calibration assembly is static (non-moveable) when on the challenge card. The light does not touch the assembly but may move over it.
    • Detector: Absorbs and converts the light into electronic data sent back to NASA to be measured. The detector will light up and make a sound when the starlight is absorbed.
  2. Choose a challenge card here.
  3. Place each component of the telescope onto the board as indicated on the card.
  4. Add the specific telescope parts to the board.
  5. Move the pieces around until the starlight reaches the detector!
  6. Keep working through the different challenges. How many can you figure out?
  7. Check out the GeoGebra link in the “Exploring Further” section below to get a mathematical understanding of how the parts interact.
  8. Communicate your results to the Team Mission: Mars crew after you finish.


Send Results

Exploring Further

Engineers at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston also used lasers to align the James Webb Space Telescope’s mirrors.

Before the telescope made it to the cryogenic testing facility, those engineers created computer models to simulate and test their ideas.

Use this website to try some simulations on your own. This instructional video will show you how to use GeoGebra. It will let you digitally recreate the game board and place the NIRSpec instrument parts as indicated by the challenge cards. When testing the challenges, consider:

  • What do you notice about the angle of the mirror? 
  • Is there a pattern in which light travels? How might this pattern help you figure out future light paths?
  • Every time the light hits a mirror, it changes direction. Describe how the mirror position changes the light path. How does the angle of the mirror influence the angle of the light?  

Engineers at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston also used lasers to align the James Webb Space Telescope’s mirrors.

Before the telescope made it to the cryogenic testing facility, those engineers created computer models to simulate and test their ideas.

Use this website to try some simulations on your own. This instructional video will show you how to use GeoGebra. It will let you digitally recreate the game board and place the NIRSpec instrument parts as indicated by the challenge cards. When testing the challenges, consider:

  • What do you notice about the angle of the mirror?
  • Is there a pattern in which light travels? How might this pattern help you figure out future light paths?
  • Every time the light hits a mirror, it changes direction. Describe how the mirror position changes the light path. How does the angle of the mirror influence the angle of the light?

Congratulations! You have successfully helped Team Mission: Stars model various light paths on the NIRSpec. Thanks for your help!

STORY OF LIGHT
GATHERING LIGHT
EXOPLANETS

THIS MATERIAL PRODUCED BY ORLANDO SCIENCE CENTER AND THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA IS BASED UPON WORK SUPPORTED BY NASA UNDER COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT AWARD NUMBER NNX16AM34G.

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