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NICMOS is a New Instrument
While planning your Cycle 7-NICMOS observations, keep in mind that NICMOS is a new capability, as well as a new instrument for HST. The sensitivities, brightness limits, and optical performance contained in this Handbook are based on our initial calibration and test observations (and in many instances also rely upon ground-based tests). You should rely upon the WWW based Exposure Time Calculator (ETC) for the best available estimates of NICMOS performance, as these may still change.
HST's performance as an infrared telescope is now significantly better characterized than it was prior to the installation of NICMOS. The level of thermal emission from the telescope is considerably lower than was predicted in the previous version of this Handbook (see Chapter 3).
As NICMOS is experiencing difficulties with both cryogen lifetime and Camera 3 focus, observers should pay careful attention to its status, the limitations imposed by this situation, and the resulting policies which have been adopted to maximize its scientific return.
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Last updated: 07/24/97 15:31:22