Instrument-Specific Reference Information
HST Handbooks
DrizzlePac Handbook (2012)
MultiDrizzle Handbook (2009)
Introduction to the HST Data Handbooks
ACS Data Handbook
ACS Instrument Handbook
WFC3 Data Handbook
WFC3 Instrument Handbook
STIS Data Handbook
STIS Instrument Handbook
NICMOS Data Handbook
NICMOS Instrument Handbook
WFPC2 Data Handbook
WFPC2 Instrument Handbook
Data Quality Flags
ACS Flags in the DQ Array (Table 3.4, ACS Data Handbook, v. 6.0)
WFC3 Flags in the DQ Array (Table 2.5, WFC3 Data Handbook, v. 2.1)
WFPC2 Flags in the DQ Array (Table 3.3, WFPC2 Data Handbook, v. 5.0)
STIS/CCD Flags in the DQ Array (Table 2.8, STIS Data Handbook, v. 6.0)
NICMOS Flags in the DQ Array (Table 2.3, NICMOS Data Handbook, v. 8.0)
Instrument Characteristics
| Detector | Pixel Format (Pixels) | Plate Scale (arcsec/pixel) | Field of View (arcsec) | Full Well | Default AstroDrizzle Output Units |
| ACS/WFC | 2 × 2048×4096 (50-pixel gap) | ~0.05 | 202×202 | 84,700 e– | e–/sec |
| ACS/HRC | 1024×1024 | ~0.028×0.025 | 29×26 | 155,000 e– | e–/sec |
| ACS/SBC | 1024×1024 | ~0.034×0.030 | 34.6×30.8 | (Total) detector linearity limit: 200,000 counts/sec; Pixel linearity limit: ~22 counts/sec/pixel |
e–/sec |
| WFC3/UVIS | 2 x 2051×4096 (31-pixel gap) | 0.04 | 162×162 | 63,000–72,000 e– | e–/sec |
| WFC3/IR | 1024×1024 (1014×1014 active) | 0.13 | 136×123 | 77,900 e– (mean) | e–/sec |
| WFPC2/PC1 | 800x800 | 0.0455 | 36x36 | ~90,000 e– Digital Saturation: ~27,000 e– (Gain=7); ~53,000 e– (Gain=14) |
DN/sec |
| WFPC2/WF2,3,4, | 800x800 (each chip) | 0.0996 | 80x80 (each chip) | ~90,000 e– ; Digital Saturation: ~27,000 e– (Gain=7); ~53,000 e– (Gain=14) |
DN/sec |
| STIS/CCD | 1024x1024 | 0.05078 | 52x52 | inner portion of detector: 144,000 e– outer portion of detector: 120,000 e– Saturation limit: 33,000 e− at GAIN=1; 144,000 e− at GAIN=4 |
e–/sec |
| NICMOS/NIC1 | 256×256 | 0.043 | 11x11 | 26,900 ADU; saturation 21,500 ADU (Gain = 5.4 e–/ADU) |
DN/sec |
| NICMOS/NIC2 | 256×256 | 0.075 | 19.2x19.2 | 28,200 ADU; saturation 20,500 ADU (Gain = 5.4 e–/ADU) |
DN/sec |
| NICMOS/NIC3 | 256×256 | 0.2 | 51.2x51.2 | 32,800 ADU; saturation 27,400 ADU (Gain = 5.4 e–/ADU) |
DN/sec |
For additional information about Instrument characteristics, please refer to these links
Table 3.1, ACS Instrument Handbook, v. 12.0
Table 5.1, WFC3 Instrument Handbook, v. 5.0
Table 1.3, WFPC2 Instrument Handbook, v. 5.0
Table 7.1, STIS Instrument Handbook, v. 12.0
Table 2.1 and Table 7.1, NICMOS Instrument Handbook, v. 11.0