"Mastering Instant JWST Image Identification"

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) produces visually stunning images of the Universe, but the colors assigned to the images are not "true color" and vary depending on the algorithms used. One key to identifying JWST images is the unique pattern of diffraction spikes around point sources, such as stars, which is caused by the telescope's hexagonal mirrors and support struts. JWST's diffraction spikes are different from those produced by other observatories, such as Hubble. The spikes are a telltale signature of JWST's configuration and can be seen in images of active black holes, foreground Milky Way stars, and even bright moons within planetary systems.