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Session 43 - HST Instruments & Other Missions.
Display session, Tuesday, January 14
Metropolitan Ballroom,
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) is a versatile, multi-purpose instrument which operates from the ultraviolet to near infrared (115-1000nm) aboard the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). An internal, two mirror relay system replaces COSTAR correcting the spherical aberration and astigmatism present at the STIS field position, about 6 arcminutes from the HST field center. The various STIS modes permit low and medium spectroscopy throughout the spectral range and over the 25 arc-second ultraviolet and 52 arcsecond visible fields. High resolution (30-100,000) echelle spectroscopy capability is provided in the ultraviolet (115-310nm). Broad band imaging is also possible over the complete spectral range and fields and a small selection of narrow and passband filters is available. A wide selection of slits and apertures permits various resolution and spatial scales to be selected in all modes. Coronagraphic stops are provided to permit observations in the visible (310 - 1000nm). On board calibration lamps permit wavelength calibration and flat fields to be obtained.
Pre-flight calibration of STIS has been completed. We summarize the optical performance of STIS including measured resolution, scattering and encircled energy characterization in this paper.
