Available Modes

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:

• Coronagraphic spectroscopy
• Coronagraphic imaging
• Coronagraphy with low inner working angles
• High Contrast Coronagraphy at Small Inner Working Angles with BAR5
• Slitless first-order spectroscopy
• Long-slit echelle spectroscopy
• Spectroscopy with the highest spectral resolution
• Precise slit orientation requiring accurate offset angles
• Solar system observations
• High signal-to-noise observations
• Spatial Scanning

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.