The James Webb Space Telescope is capable of producing detailed imagery of galaxies and stars throughout the universe. Astronomers, however, also rely on Webb’s ability to perform spectroscopy. Spectra spread light out into a range of colors to allow researchers to analyze the intensity (or brightness) of individual colors, or wavelengths. Each of Webb’s four instruments are capable of spectroscopy. There are six spectroscopy modes. Certain methods like single-object slitless or slit spectroscopy allow us to capture the spectra of individual bright objects or small, but bright regions. Other methods take the spectra of many objects or an entire field, like in wide-field slitless or multi-object spectroscopy. See each of Webb’s spectroscopy modes and which instruments are involved for each: https://webbtelescope.pub/3uJUKoW
