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Chapter 17
NICMOS
Error Sources

In This Chapter...

Flatfield Errors / 17-1
Dark Current Subtraction Errors / 17-7
Instrument Artifacts / 17-11
Cosmic Rays / 17-14

This chapter describes the most common sources of uncertainty affecting calibrated NICMOS data. Some of these will be propagated into the Error Array of the calibrated data (e.g., flatfield uncertainties) or into the Data Quality Array (e.g., grot and hot pixels). These sources all represent limiting factors for the sensitivity of the NICMOS observations. In addition, some error sources found during the Science Mission On-orbit Verification (SMOV) are described (e.g., non-zero zeroth read, dark current pedestal), to help observers decide whether their data need to be recalibrated or analyzed with particular care.

Many details in this chapter are based on preliminary results from the SMOV, and will evolve as our understanding of the on-orbit NICMOS performace improves. Updates will be periodically posted on the NICMOS WWW pages.



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Copyright © 1997, Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy. All rights reserved. Last updated: 11/13/97 17:23:05