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How Do Space Telescopes Break Down Light?

The James Webb Space Telescope will use an innovative instrument called an integral field unit (IFU) to capture images and spectra at the same time. This video gives a basic overview of how the IFU works.
  • Release Date
    October 17, 2018
  • Science Release
    How to Weigh a Black Hole Using NASA’s Webb Space Telescope
    Read the release
  • Credit
    Video: NASA, ESA, CSA, Leah Hustak (STScI)

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  • Video: 3840 × 2160, 30 FPS
    mp4 (165.32 MB)
  • Video: 640 × 360, 30 FPS
    mp4 (14.52 MB)
  • Video: 1280 × 720, 30 FPS
    mp4 (34.8 MB)
  • Video: 1920 × 1080, 30 FPS
    mp4 (59.62 MB)
  • Audio Description
    mp3 (398.67 KB)
  • Audio Description
    mp4 (65.1 MB)
  • Audio Description
    doc (21.17 KB)
  • Captions
    vtt (3.65 KB)
  • Captions
    srt (2.86 KB)
  • Image: Title slate, 1280 × 720
    png (1.28 MB)
  • Transcript
    doc (19.53 KB)
  • Transcript
    txt (1.48 KB)

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Details

Last Updated
Aug 28, 2025
Contact
Media

Laura Betz
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
laura.e.betz@nasa.gov

Video Credit

NASA, ESA, CSA, Leah Hustak (STScI)

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