The JWST Exposure Time Calculator (ETC) reports the results of calculations performed using a specified strategy that includes information about location and size of the extraction aperture, wavelength of interest, and choice of regions for background subtraction.

The JWST ETC enables exposure time calculations for a variety of instrument modes, including direct imaging, slit spectroscopy, slitless spectroscopy, integral field unit (IFU), and coronagraphy. The signal-to-noise ratio is computed using extraction strategies that are specific to the different modes. After the user has selected the scene, backgrounds, instrument setup, and detector setup, as described in the article Creating a JWST ETC Calculation, the next step is to define the strategy to be used for computing the signal-to-noise. The Strategy tab, shown below, provides choices for the extraction strategy, background subtraction, size and position of the background region, and the wavelength of slice for spectroscopic calculations.

List of articles

1. JWST ETC Imaging Aperture Photometry Strategy: Information on the strategy used for MIRI, NIRCam, and NIRISS imaging calculations.
2. JWST ETC Aperture Spectral Extraction Strategy: Details of the extraction strategy available for slitted mode calculations, such as MIRI LRS Slit and NIRSpec Fixed Slit/BOTS.
3. JWST ETC MSA Full Shutter Extraction Strategy: Information specific to the extraction strategy for NIRSpec MSA calculations.
4. JWST ETC IFU Nod In Scene and IFU Nod Off Scene Strategy: A description of the two strategies available for MIRI MRS and NIRSpec IFU calculations.
5. JWST ETC SOSS Spectral Extraction Strategy: Specific information on the extraction strategy for NIRISS SOSS calculations.
6. JWST ETC Coronagraphy Strategy: Information on the strategy used for MIRI and NIRCam coronagraphic imaging calculations.