Abstract

Using Simulated Reference Stars to Test NIRSpec Target Acquisition

Maria Pena-Guerrero (Space Telescope Science Institute)

T. Beck (STScI), T. Keyes (STScI), & P. Ferruit (ESA)

The Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) is the main spectrograph at 1-5 microns for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). For any observing mode with NIRSpec, accurate Target Acquisition (TA) is required. In order to accurately place targets in the Micro-Shutter Arrays (MSAs) with 0.2x0.45 arcseconds in size, highly precise astrometry taken with space-based telescopes is required. NIRSpec TA will use a set of 5 to 20 reference stars to correct the alignment and orient of the telescope. This poster briefly describes the TA the experiments we have done with 5, 8, and 20 simulated reference stars, generated with the NIRSpec instrument performance simulator.

Mode of presentation: poster