Additional Capabilities

STIS has observing modes which are available-but-unsupported. These are modes that require consultation with a STIS Instrument Scientist and approval of the Phase II proposal. Usage of these modes requires justification and entails certain responsibilities and risks. Specifically, observers who use available-but-unsupported modes will need to be able to calibrate their data themselves because the STIS team at STScI does not have to resources to calibrate them. 

Unique Capabilities

Some modes and methods of observing are inherently challenging or push the limits of what can be done with STIS, including:

Parallel Observing

HST also has the ability to do simultaneous parallel observations. STIS can be used in combination with another instrument, as either the primary instrument pointing at the target position or the parallel instrument pointing at an offset position determined by the spacecraft geometry. Restrictions on parallel observations are given in the HST Call for Proposals.
 

Past Conference Posters

Below are posters presented at recent AAS meetings detailing all of the available STIS modes, as well as some interesting use cases of STIS.

 

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January 4,  2020

STIS Updates January 2020

This poster discusses general STIS updates, including reference file, observatory jitter, software, focus, and documentation updates

2 MB
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January 4,  2020

Improved E140M Sensitivity Curves

This poster discusses the updates and improvements to the STIS E140M sensitivity curves

4 MB
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January 9,  2019

All STIS Modes

This poster details all of the available STIS modes, and includes call-outs for other interesting modes, such as coronagraphy, spatial scanning, and MAMA TIME-TAG Mode.

804 KB
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January 9,  2019

Coronagraphy with STIS

This poster details using STIS for coronagraphy.

9 MB
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January 9,  2019

Spatial Scanning with STIS

This poster discusses the new feature of spatial scanning with STIS.

9 MB
Last Updated: 06/02/2023

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