JWST optics makes quite unique diffraction spikes. Not only that there are eight of them, but on full resolution images [1] they have distinct pattern, as if made from separate dashed lines.
Are colors of those tiny lines (mostly red here - although this is false-color image) also diffraction artifacts, or do they correspond to actual spectrum of the stars causing them?
The color gradation is due to phasing effects from the different wavelengths of light being combined, and the checkerboard effect is an artifact of the segmented mirrors.
JWST has separate modes for spectroscopy. They’re pretty cool!
Are colors of those tiny lines (mostly red here - although this is false-color image) also diffraction artifacts, or do they correspond to actual spectrum of the stars causing them?
[1] https://www.esa.int/var/esa/storage/images/esa_multimedia/im...