The WFC3 IR 'Blobs"

Details The WFC3 IR 'Blobs" The WFC3 IR 'Blobs"

Apr 2010

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010wfc..rept....6p&link_type=abstract

Instrument Science Report WFC3 2010-06, 16 pages

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Hubble Space Telescope, Hst, Space Telescope Science Institute, Wfc3

Scientific paper

Small blemishes have been appearing in WFC3 IR images. These blemishes are regions of effec- tively lowered (by ~10-15%) sensitivity. Following the discovery of these "Blobs" in IR WFC3 observations, we have performed a systematic search for them and have been monitoring all new WFC3 IR data for the appearance of new Blobs. Using data covering the past few months, we have been able to assemble an exhaustive list of their positions and sizes as well as other physical properties.
In this ISR, we describe the physical properties of Blobs in two bandpasses (F125W and F160W), and summarize tests that we have performed to ascertain that these are physically lo- cated on the Control Select Mechanism (CSM) mirror itself and not on the IR detector. We also show that, while the number of Blobs increased quickly immediately after WFC3 was installed on board of HST, they now appear at a much reduced rate of less than 1 per month. We have cur- rently identified a total of 18 Blobs. These artifacts affect only a small fraction, or ~1.2%, of WFC3 IR pixels. They are small, with radii of ~10--15 pixels, and stable, so that that observers should be able to dither around them to lessen their impact.

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