JWST MIRI flight performance: Imaging

The Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) aboard the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) provides the observatory with a huge advance in mid-infrared imaging and spectroscopy covering the wavelength range of 5–28 µm. This paper describes the performance and characteristics of the MIRI imager as understood du...

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Published inAstronomy and astrophysics (Berlin) Vol. 689; p. A5
Main Authors Dicken, Dan, Marín, Macarena García, Shivaei, Irene, Guillard, Pierre, Libralato, Mattia, Glasse, Alistair, Gordon, Karl D., Cossou, Christophe, Kavanagh, Patrick, Temim, Tea, Flagey, Nicolas, Klaassen, Pamela, Rieke, George H., Wright, Gillian, Alberts, Stacey, Azzollini, Ruyman, Álvarez-Márquez, Javier, Bouchet, Patrice, Bright, Stacey, Cracraft, Misty, Coulais, Alain, Detre, Ors Hunor, Engesser, Mike, Fox, Ori D., Gaspar, Andras, Gastaud, René, Glauser, Adrian M., Hines, Dean C., Kendrew, Sarah, Labiano, Alvaro, Lagage, Pierre-Oliver, Lee, David, Law, David R., Morrison, Jane E., Noriega-Crespo, Alberto, Jones, Olivia, Patapis, Polychronis, Scheithauer, Silvia, Sloan, G. C., Tamas, Laszlo
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Heidelberg EDP Sciences 01.09.2024
Subjects
Data processing
Flight characteristics
Infrared astronomy
Infrared imaging
Infrared instruments
Infrared telescopes
James Webb Space Telescope
Point spread functions
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Summary:The Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) aboard the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) provides the observatory with a huge advance in mid-infrared imaging and spectroscopy covering the wavelength range of 5–28 µm. This paper describes the performance and characteristics of the MIRI imager as understood during observatory commissioning activities, and through its first year of science operations. We discuss the measurements and results of the imager’s point spread function, flux calibration, background, distortion and flat fields as well as results pertaining to best observing practices for MIRI imaging, and discuss known imaging artefacts that may be seen during or after data processing. Overall, we show that the MIRI imager has met or exceeded all its pre-flight requirements, and we expect it to make a significant contribution to mid-infrared science for the astronomy community for years to come.
ISSN:0004-6361
1432-0746
DOI:10.1051/0004-6361/202449451