The magical tree house at the time of the midnight moon is a place of wonder and enchantment. It is a secret hideaway, hidden deep within a mystical forest. This ancient tree, with its branches reaching towards the sky, holds within it a realm of magic and mystery. When the clock strikes midnight and the moon is at its fullest, the tree house comes alive. It glows with an ethereal light, beckoning those who are curious enough to venture inside. The door creaks open, revealing a world unlike any other.
The actuators on each mirror segment are capable of extremely minute movements, which allow engineers to align the entire primary mirror by finely adjusting each mirror segment. “They can move in steps that are a fraction of a wavelength of light, or about 1/10,000th the diameter of a human hair,” explained Feinberg.
Artist rending showing light reflecting off of the primary and secondary mirrors of NASA s James Webb Space Telescope, after it has deployed in space. He tells her he heard what she said about staying as she was forever, and entices her by promising that if she stays with him, she will never grow up or have to change.
The door creaks open, revealing a world unlike any other. The inside of the tree house is adorned with sparkling crystals and intricate tapestries. The air is filled with the scent of sweet flowers and the sound of gentle humming.
Aligning the Primary Mirror Segments of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope with Light
Engineers at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston used light waves to align the James Webb Space Telescope’s mirror segments to each other, so they act like a single, monolithic mirror in the cryogenic cold of the center’s iconic Chamber A.
Engineers at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston used light waves to align the James Webb Space Telescope’s mirror segments to each other, so they act like a single, monolithic mirror in the cryogenic cold of the center’s iconic Chamber A.
Credits: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Mike McClare
Part of the Webb telescope’s ongoing cryogenic testing in Chamber A at Johnson includes aligning, or “phasing,” the telescope’s 18 hexagonally shaped primary mirror segments so they function as a single 6.5-meter mirror. All of these segments must have the correct position and correct curvature; otherwise, the telescope will not be able to accurately focus on its celestial targets.
Each one of the primary mirror segments of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has an assembly with seven actuators called a hexapod.
Credits: Ball AerospaceAligning the mirrors
To measure the shape of the Webb telescope’s primary mirror, engineers use a test device called an interferometer, which shines a laser down onto the mirror. Because the mirror is segmented, it requires a specially designed interferometer, known as a multi-wavelength interferometer, which allows the engineers to use two light waves at once, explained Lee Feinberg, optical telescope element manager for the Webb telescope at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.
The interferometer splits the laser light into two separate waves. One of these waves goes through a lens and reflects off the primary mirror; the other wave acts as a reference. The reflected wave interferes with (meets) the reference wave, and engineers analyze the combined wave that results from that interference. “By analyzing the interference signal, engineers determine the mirror shape and the alignment of the mirrors,” explained Feinberg.
Artist rending showing light reflecting off of the primary and secondary mirrors of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, after it has deployed in space.
Credits: NASA/Mike McClareWhen the engineers need to adjust the positions and shapes of the mirror segments to achieve precise alignment, they use the seven actuators (tiny mechanical motors) attached to the back of each one of the mirror segments. For each segment, six of these actuators are placed into groups of two, at three equally spaced points along the outside of the mirror (to adjust the segment’s position), and one is attached to six struts that are connected to each of the hexagonal mirror segment’s corners (to adjust the segment’s shape).
The actuators on each mirror segment are capable of extremely minute movements, which allow engineers to align the entire primary mirror by finely adjusting each mirror segment. “They can move in steps that are a fraction of a wavelength of light, or about 1/10,000th the diameter of a human hair,” explained Feinberg.
These actuators can also be used to precisely reshape each mirror segment to ensure they all match up once aligned. The ability to change the mirror alignment and shape is critical because the mirror must be unfolded from its unaligned stowed position when the telescope deploys. This test verifies the actuators have enough range of movement once they are in space, at their operational temperature of about 40 K (or about minus 388 degrees Fahrenheit / minus 233 degrees Celsius), to put the telescope’s primary mirror into its correct shape so it can accurately survey the universe.
Testing the aligned mirrors
With the mirrors aligned, engineers test Webb’s optics using a piece of support equipment called the ASPA, a nested acronym that means “AOS Source Plate Assembly.” The ASPA is a piece of test hardware that sits atop Webb’s Aft Optics Subsystem (AOS) and sends test laser light into and out of the telescope, thus acting like a source of artificial starlight. The AOS contains the telescope’s tertiary and fine-steering mirrors.
During one part of the optical test, called the “half-pass” test, the ASPA feeds laser light straight into the AOS, where it is directed by the tertiary and fine-steering mirrors to Webb’s four science instruments, which sit in a compartment directly behind the primary mirror. This test lets engineers make measurements of the optics inside the AOS to verify that Webb’s tertiary mirror, which is immovable, is correctly aligned to the instruments.
In another part of the test, called the “pass-and-a-half” test, light travels in a reverse path through the telescope optics. The light is again fed into the system from the ASPA, but upwards this time, to the secondary mirror. The secondary mirror reflects the light down to the primary mirror, which sends it back up to the top of Chamber A. Mirrors at the top of the chamber send the light back down to the telescope again, where it follows its normal course through the telescope to the instruments, but this time bypassing the ASPA test equipment.
“This verifies not only the alignment of the primary mirror itself but also the alignment of the whole telescope — the primary mirror, secondary mirror, and the tertiary and fine-steering mirrors inside the AOS,” said Paul Geithner, the deputy project manager – technical for Webb telescope at Goddard. “Taken together, the half-pass and pass-and-a-half tests demonstrate that everything is aligned to everything else.”
Because the ASPA is ground test hardware, it will be removed from the telescope once the cryogenic testing at Johnson is complete.
The cryogenic vacuum environment of Chamber A simulates the frigid space environment where Webb will operate, and where it will collect data of never-before-observed portions of the universe. Verifying the entire telescope, including its optics and instruments, works correctly in this cold environment ensures the telescope will work correctly in space. The telescope and its instruments are designed to operate cold, so they must be cold to be aligned and to properly function.
The James Webb Space Telescope is the scientific complement to NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope. It will be the most powerful space telescope ever built. Webb is an international project led by NASA with its partners, ESA (European Space Agency) and the CSA (Canadian Space Agency).
For more information about the Webb telescope visit: www.jwst.nasa.gov or www.nasa.gov/webb.
By Eric Villard and Maggie Masetti
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Each room holds a different secret, waiting to be discovered. One room is filled with books that tell tales of forgotten lands and mythical creatures. Another holds potions and spellbooks, inviting the brave to dabble in the art of magic. There is even a room with a telescope where you can gaze at the stars and unlock the mysteries of the universe. Outside the tree house, the forest is alive with fantastical creatures. Unicorns graze peacefully, their gentle eyes reflecting the moonlight. Fairies dance on the breeze, leaving trails of glitter in their wake. And if you listen closely, you might even hear the playful laughter of mischievous elves. Time stands still within the tree house, allowing visitors to escape the worries and responsibilities of the outside world. Here, you can let your imagination run wild and embrace the magic that surrounds you. It is a place to dream, to create, and to find yourself. But beware, for the magic of the tree house is not easily tamed. It demands respect and a pure heart. Only those worthy of its gifts will be granted entry. Those who seek to exploit its power will find themselves banished from its sacred grounds. The magical tree house at the time of the midnight moon is a place that exists outside of time and reality. It is a haven for dreamers and believers, where anything is possible. But it is up to you to find the courage to unlock its secrets and embark on a journey of wonder and self-discovery..
Reviews for "The magical secrets of the tree house revealed at midnight"
1. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I was really looking forward to reading "The magical tree house at the time of the midnight moon" as I had heard great things about the series. However, I was disappointed with this particular book. The plot felt rushed and the characters lacked depth. The magical elements were not well explained and it left me feeling confused and unsatisfied. Overall, I would not recommend this book to others who are looking for a well-written and captivating story.
2. John - 3/5 stars - I found "The magical tree house at the time of the midnight moon" to be an average read. While it had some interesting moments, the overall story was lacking in substance. The pacing was off, with certain events feeling rushed while others dragged on. Additionally, the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. It had the potential to be a good book, but it fell short in execution. I wouldn't discourage others from reading it, but I also wouldn't highly recommend it either.
3. Emily - 1/5 stars - I was highly disappointed with "The magical tree house at the time of the midnight moon." The story lacked originality and felt like a rehash of previous books in the series. The characters were one-dimensional and their actions often made no sense. I found myself struggling to stay engaged and ended up skimming through most of the book. If you're a fan of the series, you may still want to give it a try, but personally, I would not recommend it.