NIRCam Coronagraphy Calibration Status

The overall calibration status and estimated accuracy of NIRCam coronagraphy are described in this article; please also see the article on known issues affecting NIRCam data.

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Astrometric accuracy

Date:  

Shortwave channel: Uncertainties for both round and bar occulting masks are generally on the order of 5–10 mas in the area covered by the coronagraph optical mount (COM). Outside the COM, the uncertainties are 3–6 mas.

Longwave channel: Uncertainties for both round and bar occulting masks are generally >10 mas both in and outside of the COM area.

Updated astrometric distortion files for coronagraphy are expected in the Summer of 2025.


Photometric calibration

Updated:  

An updated flux calibration for coronagraphy was released in CRDS on November 1, 2023 (pmap 1146). 

The absolute flux calibration uncertainties are <1.5% for the round masks and the short wavelength bar mask (SWB). For the long wavelength bar mask (LWB), the uncertainties are <2% for most filters, but are higher for F277W (6%), F250M (13.5%), and F300M (12.5%) because the standard star was partially obscured by the mask. These numbers should improve when Cycle 2 data are incorporated.


Target acquisition performance

Date:   


Table 1. Target acquisition global uncertainties

Target Acquisition Offsets

Please always work with your assigned contact scientist to make sure you apply the latest SR offsets to your program.

Module ASW as prime (F210M)LW channel as prime (F335M)
MaskMASK210RMASKSWBMASK335RMASK430RMASKLWB

BRIGHT (ND) TA

SR offset: -0.004, -0.011
Global error: < 15 mas (1σ)

TBD


**SR offset: -0.010, -0.018
Global error: < 15 mas (1σ) 



SR offset: -0.010, -0.018
Global error: < 15 mas (1σ) 

TBD
FAINT TATBDTBD

Table notes:

  • SR offsets are the special requirements offsets (in arcsec) currently needed (in APT) to compensate for imperfect distortion compensation and updated mask positions.
  • Values in orange need confirmation (further analysis and/or more data).
  • ** As of Cycle 4, the Special Requirement (SR) offsets for MASK335R are hard-coded in the APT template, so there is no need to specify them.

Notable updates

  • Corrected Table 1, added new information about SR offsets for MASK335R

  •  
    Corrected Table 1 with latest values and added a dynamic link

Originally published