Space Telescope Science Institute   13.1 Calibration Accuracies  13.3 Special Calibrations

13.2 Calibration Plans


The calibrations available during Cycle 13 are based on four distinct calibration plans: SMOV, Cycle 10 interim calibration plan, and Cycle 11and 12 routine calibration plans. Although the SMOV was intended to demonstrate that the instrument is functioning as expected, several programs carried out the recalibration of some aspects of the instrument. The Cycle 10 interim calibration plan was intended to enable the most commonly used science modes of the instrument (i.e. Imaging, and grism spectroscopy). Finally, the Cycle 11and 12 routine calibration plans were aimed at completing previous programs in order to reach the goals summarized in Table 13.1:. Additional information on the Cycle 10 and 11 calibration plans can be found in the Instrument Science Reports (NICMOS ISR-2002-002, and 003) posted on the STScI NICMOS instrument web page. In Table 13.2: we list the individual programs with their corresponding ID numbers. The reader may find further details via the STScI web page. We also include some of the calibration-related SMOV programs.

Table 13.2: Cycle 10 (interim), and Cycle 11 and 12 calibration programs. Some SMOV calibration-related programs are also included 
Activity Title
ID (Plan)
Comments
Multiaccum Darks
9321,(C10) 9636(C11) 9993(C12)
Monitor programs. Information needed for the 'Dark Generator Tool'
Flats
8985 (SMOV)
Flats for the broad and medium-band filters
Flats for NIC1 and NIC2
9327 (C10)
Narrow filters flats for cameras 1 and 2
Flats for NIC3
9557 (C10)
Narrow filters flats for camera 3
Photometry test
8986 (SMOV)
9997(C12)
Photometric zero points for the spectral elements
Aperture Location
8981 (SMOV)
location of the NICMOS apertures in the V2-V3 plane
Plate Scale
8982 (SMOV)
To measure the plate scale, field rotation and field distortion
Grism calibration
8981 (SMOV)
9998(C12)
Calibration of the spectroscopic mode
Polarimetric calibration
9644 (C11)
Calibration of the polarimetric mode
Optimum Coronagraphic Focus
8979 (SMOV)
Determination of the optimum coronagraphic focus
Coronagraphic Performance Assessment
8984 (SMOV)
Quantitative re-evaluation of the coronagraphic mode
Focus Stability
9323(C10) 9637(C11)
9994(C12)
Programs to monitor the best focus
Photometric Stability
9325(C10) 9639(C11)
9995(C12)
Monitor programs. Observations of the photometric standard (P303E) with select filters
Flat Stability
9326(C10) 9640(C11)
Monitor programs using selected filters
Dark Generator Tool test
9641 (C11)
To characterize the accuracy of the tool used for generating synthetic darks
SAA CR Persistence Test
8987 (SMOV)
Calibration for mitigating the effects of cosmic-ray induced persistence after passage of the SAA
Accum Darks
9322 (C10)
Darks needed for the calibration of the Cosmic Ray persistence
Thermal Background
8989 (SMOV)
To characterize the thermal background which reaches the NICMOS focal plane
Intrapixel sensitivity
9638 (C11)
Calibration of the photometric effects of intra-pixel sensitivity variations
High S/N Capability Characterization
9642 (C11)
Characterization of temporal variations at the high S/N regime, using the grisms
Gain Test
9324 (C10)
Engineering test to demonstrate the advantages of a new gain value


 13.1 Calibration Accuracies  13.3 Special Calibrations
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