Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI)

Illustrations of the capabilities of the Mid-Infrared Instrument. Source: webbtelescope.org

The Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) is one of Webb’s four scientific instruments. MIRI provides imaging and spectroscopy capabilities in the mid-infrared. As the only mid-infrared instrument, astronomers rely on MIRI to study cooler objects like debris disks, which emit most of their light in the mid-infrared, and extremely distant galaxies whose light has been shifted into the mid-infrared over time. MIRI was developed through a collaboration between the European Consortium (EC) and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).

Source: JWST images