JWST Pointing Performance
JWST's pointing performance for slewing accuracy and pointing stability, based on actual performance, is covered in this article.
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See also: JWST Slew Times and Overheads
JWST's pointing accuracy, target tracking capability, and pointing stability are all the result of complex interactions between the observatory's hardware performance and flight software. Pointing performance results from the interactions between star trackers, gyroscopes, reaction wheels, fine sun sensors, the fine steering mirror, the fine guidance sensors, multiple target acquisition modes (for different science instruments), flight software (both spacecraft and science instruments), ground software, guide star selection, and observation scheduling details. The spacecraft's attitude control system (ACS) controls the pointing and slewing of the JWST observatory. The Fine Guiding System works with the science instruments for the final location and tracking of science targets. This page summarizes the actual pointing performance.
Definitions and units
Pointing accuracy is given in units of either arcseconds(") or milliarcseconds(mas), and expressed as 1-σ radial.
Absolute pointing accuracy after guide star acquisition
The absolute pointing accuracy of JWST, without a science target acquisition, is 0.10" (1-σ, radial). This uncertainty is dominated by guide star catalog position errors, which continue to be reduced as guidelines for selecting guide stars are refined. Pointing repeatability is excellent; independent observations at the same target and same position angle usually result in pointings identical to within 0.10".
Pointing accuracy after target acquisition
Observations requiring better final pointing accuracy than 0.10" (e.g., coronagraphic spot (null) placement, repeatable position for NIRISS aperture masking interferometry (AMI), or single object slitless spectroscopy (SOSS)), will need to use onboard target acquisition. Although each instrument mode uses a different target acquisition process, all modes typically achieve target positions within a few mas rms per axis (NIR instruments), or slightly larger rms for MIRI, which has larger PSFs. For NIRCam coronagraphy, the recommended small grid dithers yield excellent coronagraphic contrast.
Target acquisitions for NIRSpec multi-object spectroscopy are the most challenging, because they derive a roll correction for the observatory's position angle in addition to X, Y position offsets. Although the procedure requires careful attention to implement, pointing accuracy of <25 mas is possible with NIRSpec MSA Target Acquisition.
All modes requiring target acquisition meet or exceed their respective pointing requirements.
Guiding precision and pointing stability
For fixed targets, pointing stability is evaluated as the rms error in the guide star position in a 15 s interval, compared to the mean position over a 10,000 s observation.
Line-of-sight (LOS) pointing stability under fine guiding control is superb. The Fine Guiding Sensor (FGS) sensing precision is parameterized as the noise equivalent angle (NEA, an equivalent jitter angle based on centroid position and SNR), and is usually ~1 mas (1-σ per axis), symmetric. The LOS jitter seen in the science instruments is similarly good, and high frequency sampling of the jitter in a NIRCam small subarray is the same, ~1 mas (1-σ per axis). Although a drift in observatory roll could theoretically generate image drift in a long duration observation, measurements during commissioning indicated such drifts are negligible.
The below figure shows a typical jitter profile. This particular dataset was obtained from the first jitter analysis performed during commissioning (PID 1163, observation 2, reference JWST-STScI-008271).
For Solar System (i.e., moving) targets, the line-of-sight pointing stability is evaluated as the rms value over a 1,000 s observation for a linear motion of 3.0 mas/s, and is estimated to be 6.2 to 6.7 mas (1-σ per axis, depending on the science instrument). Moving target guide star faint limits are J > 16.5, and 17.0 in FGS 1 and 2, respectively.
Dither precision
See also: JWST Dithering Overview
Dithers (small repointings) less than 60 mas are executed with the fine steering mirror while maintaining closed-loop guiding on the guide star. Dithers between 60 mas and 25" are executed by dropping closed-loop guiding, slewing, and re-entering guiding at the track mode stage. Dithers larger than 25" are executed by dropping closed-loop guiding, slewing, and then restarting guiding at the guide star acquisition stage. The accuracy for all 3 types of dither are usually 2–4 mas rms (1-σ per axis) on the sky. For larger dithers the offset accuracy may be a few mas larger due to residuals in the astrometric calibration of a particular science instrument.
Tracking moving targets
See also: Moving Target Acquisition and Tracking
JWST was launched with a requirement to track objects at speeds up to 30 mas/s. During commissioning, tracking was demonstrated at rates up to 67 mas/sec. All tests of moving targets were successful: centroids showed subpixel scatter in all instruments, jitter rms for the guider was typically <2mas (1-σ, radial), and image quality was comparable to that of fixed targets. Tracking at rates 30–70 mas/s had similar accuracy to that seen with lower rates. These tests verified science instrument performance for moving targets, including dithering and mosaicking.
During Cycle 1, tracking has been successfully demonstrated at rates up to 110 mas, but with restrictions on exposure length. Beginning with Cycle 2, tracking at rates up to 75 mas/s will be supported by APT without special approval; shared-risk observations at rates 76–100 mas/s will be allowed, but only with careful coordination and approval from STScI moving target experts and operations support staff.
References
Hartig, G. F., & Lallo, M. 2022, JWST-STScI-008271
JWST Line-of-Sight Jitter Measurement during Commissioning
Gardner, J. P. et al. 2006, Space Sci.Rev., 123, 485
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