Coordinated Parallel Observations

JWST allows coordinated parallel observations, which are  specified via select observing templates available in the Astronomer’s Proposal Tool (APT).

Introduction

Purple text indicates the parameter is Limited Access.

Boldface italics type indicates the name of an APT parameter or a value for a parameter.

(warning)Red text indicates restrictions on a parameter.

(red star) Black text indicates an important note.

Brown text indicates notes for the developers.

Green text indicates the name of the parameter used by Commanding.

Items in brackets - <value> - are required values.

Items in square brackets - [<value>] - are optional.

A coordinated parallel observation consists of a Prime observation (which controls the pointing of the telescope) and a Parallel observation (which will be obtained at the same time as the prime). There are only certain combinations of Prime and Parallel observations supported, and these are listed in Table 1.

  Table 1. Allowed combinations of Prime and Parallel Observations.

Prime TemplateCoordinated Parallel Template
MIRI Imaging

NIRCam Imaging

NIRISS Wide Field Slitless Spectroscopy  

* FGS External Calibration

MIRI MRS* FGS External Calibration
NIRCam Imaging

MIRI Imaging

NIRISS Imaging

eNIRISS Wide Field Slitless Spectroscopy

NIRCam Wide Field Slitless Spectroscopy

NIRISS Imaging

MIRI Imaging

NIRCam Engineering Imaging* FGS External Calibration
NIRSpec Imaging* FGS External Calibration
NIRSpec Multi-Object Spectroscopy

MIRI Imaging

NIRCam Imaging

NIRISS Wide Field Slitless Spectroscopy

MIRI Imaging

NIRCam Imaging

NIRISS External Calibration* FGS External Calibration
* available only when CATEGORY= CAL, COM, or ENG

To specify a coordinated parallel observation, check the Coordinated Parallel box and then select the template for the Parallel observation. This will add a second template tab so you can fill in the parameters for the coordinated parallel observation. The Prime observation template will offer additional dithers (see Tables 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d for MIRI, NIRCam, NIRSpec, and NIRISS prime, respectively) optimized for that coordinated parallel template pairing, while the coordinated parallel template will NOT include dithering parameters, since the Prime observation controls the pointing of the telescope.

Coordinated Parallel Observation Limitations

  • The Parallel observation must have the same number of total exposures as the prime observation.
  • The first parallel exposure will be done in parallel with the first prime exposure, the second parallel exposure will be done in parallel with the second prime exposure and so forth.
  • For each prime/parallel exposure pair, the duration of the parallel exposure cannot exceed that of the prime exposure.
  • An error is generated for a coordinated parallel visit if any of the visits would result in too many SAMs (Small Angle Maneuvers). Reduce the number of filters and/or mosaic tiles in the visit, or force visit splitting via special requirement..
  • When MIRI Imaging is the prime or parallel observation, the NUMBER OF EXPOSURES/DITHER must be 1.
  • Some NIRCam readout patterns cannot be used with parallel observations because of data rate limitations. 
    • RAPID cannot be used at any time (NIRCam prime or parallel)
    • BRIGHT1 can only be used if MODULE is not ALL (NIRCam prime or parallel)
    • BRIGHT2 cannot be used when NIRSpec Multi-Object Spectroscopy is prime

A typical NIRISS WFSS observation (not involved in a coordinated observation) consists of a non-dithered Direct image, a dithered Science image, followed by another non-dithered Direct image. The following techniques will help you maintain this structure when using NIRISS WFSS as part of a coordinated parallel observation.

NIRISS WFSS Template as the Prime Observation

Each parallel MIRI or NIRCam observation must consist of 3 exposure specifications for each WFSS science exposure specification. The first and third exposure specifications must have only 1 total dithers (i.e. be undithered) to match the WFSS direct images that surround each WFSS science exposure specification. If you complete the WFSS exposure specification first, APT will automatically give you the correct number of dithers for the parallels as you create them.

NIRISS WFSS Template as the Parallel Observation

MIRI Imaging

When using MIRI Imaging as the prime observation, a special parameter is available to make the exposure count match.

DIRECT IMAGE PRIME = NO_DITHERING (default), DITHER_DIRECT_IMAGES

If you select NO_DITHERING, then APT will direct you to select DITHER = NONE for those MIRI images that match the WFSS Direct exposures. If you select DITHER_DIRECT_IMAGES, then the parallel NIRISS WFSS Direct images will be dithered to match the dithering you have chosen for your MIRI prime exposures.

 NIRCam Imaging

When using NIRCam Imaging as the prime observation, a special parameter is available to make the exposure count match.

DIRECT IMAGE EXPOSURES = NO_DITHERING (default), DITHER_DIRECT_IMAGES

If you select NO_DITHERING, then the NIRCam images that match the WFSS Direct exposures will not be dithered. If you select DITHER_DIRECT_IMAGES, then all NIRCam images will be dithered as specified, and the NIRISS WFSS Direct images will also be dithered to match.

Change log

December 16, 2022

  1. PROPINSTJWST-91568  In Coordinated Parallel Observation Limitations section, added bullet point for error >99 groups with coordinated parallels.


December 4, 2022

  1. PROPINSTJWST-91525  Updated developer note in NIRCam Imaging section.


Version 6 (November 18, 2019)

  1. PROPINSTJWST-91373 Added PRD source and JDOX link to NIRISS section.


Version 6 (November 18, 2019)

  1. PROPINSTJWST-91377 Added NIRCam WFSS + MIRI Imaging combo to Table 1. Added Additional Dithers for the new combo to Table 2b.
  2. PROPINSTJWST-91378 Added NIRCam WFSS + NIRISS Imaging combo to Table 1. Added Additional Dithers for the new combo to Table 2b.
  3. PROPINSTJWST-91379 Added NIRSpec MOS + MIRI Imaging combo to Table 1.


Version 5 (October 18, 2019)

  1. PROPINSTJWST-91379 - In Table 1, added NIRSpec MOS-MIRI Imaging parallel combo
  2. PROPINSTJWST-91378 - In Table 1, added NIRCam WFSS-NIRISS Imaging combo
  3. PROPINSTJWST-91377 - In Table 1, added NIRCam WFSS-MIRI Imaging combo


Version 4 (April 16, 2019)

  1. Editorial change (moved change log to main article).


Version 3 (July 13, 2018)

  1. PR 85821 - Updated combinations in Table 1


Version 2 (May 2, 2018)

  1. PR 85713 - (Additional Dithers for Coordinated Parallel Observations article only). Added links to INS article and PRD files.


Version 1 (February 8, 2018)

  1. This is the initial version. This includes PR 87217, PR 86382, and PR 86460.