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

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Astrometric accuracy

Date: 15 Mar 2024

The table below displays the uncertainties in source positions for all NIRCam filter and pupil combinations after WCS corrections using the latest astrometric distortion calibration files that were delivered in February 2024. To convert from pixels to arcsec, multiply by the pixel scale for the appropriate channel. Note that there are some small systematics present for F070W with module B that are currently being investigated.

Aperture	Filter	Pupil	X-residuals mean (pix)	X-residuals mean error (pix)	X-residuals RMS (pix)	Y-residuals mean (pix)	Y-residuals mean error (pix)	Y-residuals RMS (pix)
NRCA1_FULL	F070W	CLEAR	0.0077	0.0012	0.0777	0.0008	0.0011	0.0759
NRCA1_FULL	F090W	CLEAR	0.0055	0.0013	0.0597	0.0000	0.0013	0.0587
NRCA1_FULL	F115W	CLEAR	0.0031	0.0012	0.0545	0.0003	0.0012	0.0564
NRCA1_FULL	F140M	CLEAR	0.0020	0.0012	0.0538	0.0004	0.0013	0.0593
NRCA1_FULL	F150W	CLEAR	0.0026	0.0006	0.0548	0.0007	0.0006	0.0542
NRCA1_FULL	F150W2	CLEAR	0.0025	0.0012	0.0531	0.0008	0.0013	0.0563
NRCA1_FULL	F150W2	F162M	0.0023	0.0011	0.0517	0.0019	0.0012	0.0560
NRCA1_FULL	F150W2	F164N	0.0015	0.0009	0.0557	0.0021	0.0009	0.0597
NRCA1_FULL	F182M	CLEAR	0.0051	0.0013	0.0568	0.0044	0.0013	0.0608
NRCA1_FULL	F187N	CLEAR	0.0047	0.0009	0.0563	0.0042	0.0009	0.0591
NRCA1_FULL	F200W	CLEAR	0.0016	0.0006	0.0542	0.0000	0.0006	0.0551
NRCA1_FULL	F210M	CLEAR	0.0050	0.0007	0.0573	0.0051	0.0007	0.0579
NRCA1_FULL	F212N	CLEAR	0.0048	0.0009	0.0575	0.0047	0.0010	0.0630
NRCA2_FULL	F070W	CLEAR	0.0069	0.0011	0.0737	-0.0004	0.0011	0.0706
NRCA2_FULL	F090W	CLEAR	0.0055	0.0014	0.0631	-0.0013	0.0013	0.0618
NRCA2_FULL	F115W	CLEAR	0.0019	0.0013	0.0593	0.0006	0.0012	0.0566
NRCA2_FULL	F140M	CLEAR	0.0003	0.0013	0.0581	0.0007	0.0013	0.0590
NRCA2_FULL	F150W	CLEAR	0.0011	0.0006	0.0548	0.0011	0.0006	0.0549
NRCA2_FULL	F150W2	CLEAR	0.0004	0.0014	0.0593	0.0015	0.0014	0.0590
NRCA2_FULL	F150W2	F162M	0.0012	0.0013	0.0604	0.0018	0.0012	0.0548
NRCA2_FULL	F150W2	F164N	0.0007	0.0010	0.0622	0.0030	0.0009	0.0613
NRCA2_FULL	F182M	CLEAR	0.0054	0.0014	0.0647	-0.0051	0.0014	0.0635
NRCA2_FULL	F187N	CLEAR	0.0051	0.0010	0.0655	-0.0047	0.0010	0.0644
NRCA2_FULL	F200W	CLEAR	0.0005	0.0006	0.0548	0.0003	0.0006	0.0554
NRCA2_FULL	F210M	CLEAR	0.0049	0.0007	0.0579	-0.0052	0.0008	0.0591
NRCA2_FULL	F212N	CLEAR	0.0048	0.0010	0.0652	-0.0042	0.0010	0.0663
NRCA3_FULL	F070W	CLEAR	-0.0050	0.0014	0.0809	-0.0015	0.0016	0.0960
NRCA3_FULL	F090W	CLEAR	-0.0028	0.0013	0.0578	0.0022	0.0016	0.0669
NRCA3_FULL	F115W	CLEAR	0.0015	0.0013	0.0553	0.0026	0.0013	0.0559
NRCA3_FULL	F140M	CLEAR	0.0021	0.0013	0.0576	0.0033	0.0013	0.0579
NRCA3_FULL	F150W	CLEAR	0.0019	0.0006	0.0533	0.0021	0.0006	0.0550
NRCA3_FULL	F150W2	CLEAR	0.0016	0.0013	0.0539	0.0036	0.0013	0.0535
NRCA3_FULL	F150W2	F162M	0.0015	0.0013	0.0545	0.0045	0.0013	0.0546
NRCA3_FULL	F150W2	F164N	0.0017	0.0009	0.0578	0.0045	0.0010	0.0596
NRCA3_FULL	F182M	CLEAR	-0.0043	0.0013	0.0578	0.0076	0.0014	0.0625
NRCA3_FULL	F187N	CLEAR	-0.0046	0.0010	0.0592	0.0071	0.0010	0.0616
NRCA3_FULL	F200W	CLEAR	0.0010	0.0006	0.0538	0.0012	0.0006	0.0554
NRCA3_FULL	F210M	CLEAR	-0.0036	0.0007	0.0572	0.0067	0.0008	0.0606
NRCA3_FULL	F212N	CLEAR	-0.0046	0.0010	0.0595	0.0070	0.0010	0.0639
NRCA4_FULL	F070W	CLEAR	-0.0071	0.0013	0.0775	-0.0079	0.0014	0.0833
NRCA4_FULL	F090W	CLEAR	-0.0009	0.0014	0.0610	-0.0071	0.0015	0.0639
NRCA4_FULL	F115W	CLEAR	0.0027	0.0013	0.0579	-0.0026	0.0013	0.0554
NRCA4_FULL	F140M	CLEAR	0.0028	0.0014	0.0576	-0.0011	0.0013	0.0546
NRCA4_FULL	F150W	CLEAR	0.0020	0.0006	0.0544	-0.0007	0.0007	0.0554
NRCA4_FULL	F150W2	CLEAR	0.0016	0.0014	0.0573	-0.0013	0.0013	0.0512
NRCA4_FULL	F150W2	F162M	0.0005	0.0012	0.0533	0.0014	0.0012	0.0499
NRCA4_FULL	F150W2	F164N	0.0004	0.0010	0.0578	0.0022	0.0009	0.0549
NRCA4_FULL	F182M	CLEAR	-0.0026	0.0014	0.0578	-0.0062	0.0014	0.0579
NRCA4_FULL	F187N	CLEAR	-0.0036	0.0010	0.0593	-0.0051	0.0009	0.0571
NRCA4_FULL	F200W	CLEAR	0.0014	0.0006	0.0546	0.0000	0.0006	0.0556
NRCA4_FULL	F210M	CLEAR	-0.0031	0.0007	0.0566	-0.0059	0.0008	0.0610
NRCA4_FULL	F212N	CLEAR	-0.0042	0.0010	0.0611	-0.0052	0.0010	0.0601
NRCA5_FULL	F250M	CLEAR	-0.0001	0.0005	0.0385	0.0010	0.0005	0.0447
NRCA5_FULL	F277W	CLEAR	0.0001	0.0002	0.0310	0.0005	0.0002	0.0321
NRCA5_FULL	F300M	CLEAR	-0.0004	0.0004	0.0346	0.0008	0.0005	0.0382
NRCA5_FULL	F322W2	CLEAR	-0.0003	0.0003	0.0296	0.0012	0.0004	0.0307
NRCA5_FULL	F322W2	F323N	-0.0012	0.0006	0.0441	0.0030	0.0006	0.0483
NRCA5_FULL	F335M	CLEAR	0.0012	0.0002	0.0328	-0.0030	0.0002	0.0348
NRCA5_FULL	F356W	CLEAR	-0.0005	0.0002	0.0308	0.0005	0.0002	0.0317
NRCA5_FULL	F360M	CLEAR	-0.0010	0.0005	0.0379	0.0009	0.0005	0.0418
NRCA5_FULL	F410M	CLEAR	-0.0003	0.0008	0.0412	-0.0001	0.0009	0.0466
NRCA5_FULL	F430M	CLEAR	-0.0005	0.0004	0.0312	0.0004	0.0004	0.0329
NRCA5_FULL	F444W	CLEAR	-0.0006	0.0003	0.0331	0.0001	0.0003	0.0325
NRCA5_FULL	F444W	F405N	-0.0002	0.0006	0.0485	0.0019	0.0007	0.0508
NRCA5_FULL	F444W	F466N	0.0000	0.0005	0.0389	0.0015	0.0005	0.0403
NRCA5_FULL	F444W	F470N	0.0000	0.0005	0.0399	0.0021	0.0005	0.0425
NRCA5_FULL	F460M	CLEAR	-0.0004	0.0004	0.0322	0.0011	0.0004	0.0340
NRCA5_FULL	F480M	CLEAR	-0.0003	0.0004	0.0336	0.0011	0.0004	0.0349
NRCB1_FULL	F070W	CLEAR	-0.0078	0.0012	0.0763	0.0080	0.0012	0.0772
NRCB1_FULL	F090W	CLEAR	0.0008	0.0013	0.0600	0.0069	0.0014	0.0662
NRCB1_FULL	F115W	CLEAR	0.0055	0.0013	0.0586	0.0021	0.0013	0.0614
NRCB1_FULL	F140M	CLEAR	0.0061	0.0013	0.0599	0.0011	0.0014	0.0636
NRCB1_FULL	F150W	CLEAR	0.0066	0.0007	0.0572	0.0002	0.0007	0.0564
NRCB1_FULL	F150W2	CLEAR	0.0066	0.0013	0.0589	0.0013	0.0013	0.0601
NRCB1_FULL	F150W2	F162M	0.0036	0.0012	0.0562	0.0038	0.0013	0.0600
NRCB1_FULL	F150W2	F164N	0.0034	0.0010	0.0622	0.0035	0.0010	0.0650
NRCB1_FULL	F182M	CLEAR	0.0059	0.0014	0.0634	0.0006	0.0014	0.0639
NRCB1_FULL	F187N	CLEAR	0.0049	0.0009	0.0606	0.0010	0.0010	0.0630
NRCB1_FULL	F200W	CLEAR	0.0063	0.0007	0.0572	-0.0001	0.0007	0.0578
NRCB1_FULL	F210M	CLEAR	0.0064	0.0008	0.0580	0.0000	0.0008	0.0589
NRCB1_FULL	F212N	CLEAR	0.0042	0.0010	0.0624	0.0012	0.0010	0.0662
NRCB2_FULL	F070W	CLEAR	-0.0112	0.0013	0.0858	-0.0005	0.0011	0.0735
NRCB2_FULL	F090W	CLEAR	-0.0024	0.0013	0.0614	0.0032	0.0013	0.0630
NRCB2_FULL	F115W	CLEAR	0.0028	0.0012	0.0561	-0.0002	0.0012	0.0577
NRCB2_FULL	F140M	CLEAR	0.0037	0.0012	0.0570	0.0002	0.0013	0.0584
NRCB2_FULL	F150W	CLEAR	0.0043	0.0006	0.0550	-0.0009	0.0006	0.0561
NRCB2_FULL	F150W2	CLEAR	0.0038	0.0012	0.0544	-0.0006	0.0012	0.0556
NRCB2_FULL	F150W2	F162M	0.0028	0.0012	0.0550	0.0002	0.0012	0.0566
NRCB2_FULL	F150W2	F164N	0.0032	0.0009	0.0616	0.0005	0.0009	0.0606
NRCB2_FULL	F182M	CLEAR	0.0040	0.0013	0.0596	0.0002	0.0013	0.0594
NRCB2_FULL	F187N	CLEAR	0.0039	0.0009	0.0596	0.0000	0.0009	0.0608
NRCB2_FULL	F200W	CLEAR	0.0043	0.0006	0.0544	-0.0006	0.0006	0.0564
NRCB2_FULL	F210M	CLEAR	0.0048	0.0007	0.0556	-0.0008	0.0007	0.0584
NRCB2_FULL	F212N	CLEAR	0.0042	0.0009	0.0605	-0.0003	0.0009	0.0611
NRCB3_FULL	F070W	CLEAR	-0.0206	0.0015	0.1003	0.0042	0.0012	0.0808
NRCB3_FULL	F090W	CLEAR	-0.0035	0.0014	0.0611	0.0043	0.0013	0.0605
NRCB3_FULL	F115W	CLEAR	0.0037	0.0013	0.0584	0.0023	0.0013	0.0596
NRCB3_FULL	F140M	CLEAR	0.0062	0.0013	0.0605	0.0010	0.0014	0.0620
NRCB3_FULL	F150W	CLEAR	0.0059	0.0006	0.0554	0.0007	0.0007	0.0563
NRCB3_FULL	F150W2	CLEAR	0.0052	0.0013	0.0580	0.0016	0.0013	0.0567
NRCB3_FULL	F150W2	F162M	0.0052	0.0012	0.0562	0.0015	0.0012	0.0565
NRCB3_FULL	F150W2	F164N	0.0063	0.0010	0.0636	0.0019	0.0010	0.0621
NRCB3_FULL	F182M	CLEAR	0.0062	0.0014	0.0636	0.0007	0.0014	0.0647
NRCB3_FULL	F187N	CLEAR	0.0059	0.0010	0.0613	0.0010	0.0009	0.0607
NRCB3_FULL	F200W	CLEAR	0.0059	0.0006	0.0558	0.0006	0.0007	0.0574
NRCB3_FULL	F210M	CLEAR	0.0057	0.0007	0.0564	0.0006	0.0007	0.0584
NRCB3_FULL	F212N	CLEAR	0.0061	0.0010	0.0640	0.0010	0.0010	0.0638
NRCB4_FULL	F070W	CLEAR	-0.0213	0.0014	0.0932	-0.0075	0.0011	0.0757
NRCB4_FULL	F090W	CLEAR	-0.0026	0.0013	0.0594	-0.0010	0.0013	0.0613
NRCB4_FULL	F115W	CLEAR	0.0060	0.0012	0.0569	-0.0001	0.0012	0.0572
NRCB4_FULL	F140M	CLEAR	0.0080	0.0013	0.0606	0.0003	0.0013	0.0593
NRCB4_FULL	F150W	CLEAR	0.0081	0.0007	0.0575	0.0001	0.0007	0.0572
NRCB4_FULL	F150W2	CLEAR	0.0075	0.0013	0.0587	0.0004	0.0013	0.0561
NRCB4_FULL	F150W2	F162M	0.0074	0.0012	0.0567	0.0030	0.0012	0.0566
NRCB4_FULL	F150W2	F164N	0.0072	0.0009	0.0612	0.0028	0.0009	0.0615
NRCB4_FULL	F182M	CLEAR	0.0081	0.0013	0.0631	0.0005	0.0013	0.0620
NRCB4_FULL	F187N	CLEAR	0.0076	0.0009	0.0626	0.0004	0.0009	0.0607
NRCB4_FULL	F200W	CLEAR	0.0076	0.0006	0.0571	-0.0006	0.0006	0.0578
NRCB4_FULL	F210M	CLEAR	0.0074	0.0007	0.0577	-0.0004	0.0007	0.0598
NRCB4_FULL	F212N	CLEAR	0.0079	0.0009	0.0631	0.0008	0.0010	0.0633
NRCB5_FULL	F250M	CLEAR	0.0024	0.0005	0.0413	0.0009	0.0005	0.0448
NRCB5_FULL	F277W	CLEAR	0.0023	0.0002	0.0300	-0.0005	0.0002	0.0310
NRCB5_FULL	F300M	CLEAR	0.0026	0.0004	0.0375	-0.0001	0.0005	0.0403
NRCB5_FULL	F322W2	CLEAR	0.0026	0.0003	0.0304	-0.0001	0.0003	0.0305
NRCB5_FULL	F322W2	F323N	0.0018	0.0006	0.0464	0.0018	0.0006	0.0488
NRCB5_FULL	F335M	CLEAR	0.0028	0.0002	0.0312	-0.0010	0.0002	0.0325
NRCB5_FULL	F356W	CLEAR	0.0026	0.0002	0.0303	-0.0010	0.0002	0.0315
NRCB5_FULL	F360M	CLEAR	0.0023	0.0005	0.0412	-0.0005	0.0005	0.0436
NRCB5_FULL	F410M	CLEAR	0.0020	0.0008	0.0456	-0.0004	0.0009	0.0500
NRCB5_FULL	F430M	CLEAR	0.0023	0.0004	0.0325	-0.0009	0.0004	0.0334
NRCB5_FULL	F444W	CLEAR	0.0021	0.0003	0.0325	-0.0004	0.0003	0.0320
NRCB5_FULL	F444W	F405N	0.0019	0.0006	0.0517	0.0011	0.0007	0.0546
NRCB5_FULL	F444W	F466N	0.0019	0.0005	0.0425	0.0007	0.0005	0.0436
NRCB5_FULL	F444W	F470N	0.0021	0.0005	0.0440	0.0010	0.0006	0.0455
NRCB5_FULL	F460M	CLEAR	0.0019	0.0004	0.0346	0.0004	0.0004	0.0356
NRCB5_FULL	F480M	CLEAR	0.0022	0.0004	0.0328	0.0004	0.0004	0.0336

The table below shows the central coordinates and orientation of the SW and LW detectors with the F210M and F335M filters, respectively. The central coordinates are in arcsec in the telescope V2/V3 coordinate system, while the orientation is defined as the angle between the y-axis and the V3 axis (in degrees). These relative positions between detectors are significantly better than 0.01 arcsec (column V?ref_mean_err), and the orientation is known to 0.001 degree. These central coordinates and orientation vary only on the subpixel level with filter, with the exception of F200W for which the central coordinates differ by about 0.1 arcsec with respect to the other filters.

Aperture	Filter	V3IdlYAngle_mean	V3IdlYAngle_mean_err	V2ref_mean	V2ref_mean_err	V3ref_mean	V3ref_mean_err
NRCA1_FULL	F210M	-0.55188201	0.00106753	120.57679274	0.00414873	-527.50143070	0.00219694
NRCA2_FULL	F210M	-0.20724878	0.00092962	119.74006090	0.00578037	-459.78425962	0.00222927
NRCA3_FULL	F210M	0.28210395	0.00115855	51.94617359	0.00423269	-527.92752724	0.00300240
NRCA4_FULL	F210M	0.10017832	0.00132245	52.35904036	0.00555348	-459.90117843	0.00299128
NRCA5_FULL	F335M	-0.06338311	0.00096199	85.92656001	0.00504886	-493.50253723	0.00289193
NRCB1_FULL	F210M	0.34481904	0.00138479	-122.42798611	0.00567236	-457.70675371	0.00587874
NRCB2_FULL	F210M	0.84655599	0.00083996	-122.67993259	0.00436368	-525.42087812	0.00618166
NRCB3_FULL	F210M	-0.45164689	0.00116554	-54.61077840	0.00549245	-457.70291293	0.00489397
NRCB4_FULL	F210M	-0.33826590	0.00137810	-54.38670449	0.00427033	-525.63030666	0.00484524
NRCB5_FULL	F335M	0.02319705	0.00095703	-89.40282237	0.00531665	-491.36012629	0.00582880

Photometric calibration

Date: 19 Sep 2023

An updated flux calibration was released in CRDS on September 14, 2023 (pmap 1126).

The absolute flux calibration uncertainties are <1% for most filters/detectors, and 1%–2% for the remainder. Four LW filters reach 2%–4%: F322W2 & F460M on module B and F430M & F460M on module A.
- The absolute flux calibration of the weak lenses (used in time-series observations) is currently based on ground data, and is within about 5% uncertainty. An update based on in-flight observations of standard stars is expected in the spring of 2024.
Average detector-to-detector offsets are <0.03 mag between the standard stars (often < 0.01 mag), depending on filter.
Subarray and full frame observations agree to <1%.

Stability is <1% based on repeated imaging measurements in F212N in the shortwave channel and F470N in the longwave channel throughout Cycle 1 and 2.

Target acquisition for time-series imaging

Date: 19 Sep 2023

Analysis of the target acquisition performance for time-series imaging is still in progress.

Notable updates	08 Jul 2024 Added a table with detector position and orientation in V2/V3
Originally published	15 Mar 2024

JWST User Documentation

NIRCam Imaging Calibration Status

Astrometric accuracy

Photometric calibration

Target acquisition for time-series imaging