What is the primary function of the MIRI coronagraph on JWST?
Answer
To block the overwhelming glare of a star
The coronagraph located within the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) serves as a specialized mask designed to physically obscure the intense, overwhelming light radiating from a star. This suppression is essential because stars are significantly brighter than the planets orbiting them. By blocking the direct glare of the star, the instrument allows the much fainter, reflected or emitted infrared light from nearby orbiting objects to be detected, which would otherwise be completely washed out by the star's radiation.
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