JWST Target Viewing Constraints

JWST has time-variable viewing constraints, imposed by a combination of observatory safety concerns and target position in ecliptic coordinates.

See also: JWST Orbit, JWST Target Observability and Observatory Coordinate System, JWST Position Angles, Ranges, and Offsets, JWST Target Visibility Tools 

At all times during the operational phase of the mission, the JWST telescope and science instruments must remain shielded from the sun. To not do so would endanger the entire functionality of the observatory. The geometry of the JWST sun shield limits where JWST can point at a given time and for how long. It also impacts the observatory's ability to observe the celestial sphere at certain position angles, especially for target positions at low ecliptic latitudes.

Please see these articles for further details:

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Notable updates
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    Page has undergone significant revisions with content expanded and moved to child pages.

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    Updated to add information about micrometeoroid avoidance zone for Cycle 2

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    Updated links and reviewed information for 2020 Cycle 1.
Originally published