Sign on

SAO/NASA ADS Astronomy Abstract Service

· Find Similar Abstracts (with default settings below)
· Electronic Refereed Journal Article (HTML)
· Full Refereed Journal Article (PDF/Postscript)
· arXiv e-print (arXiv:0704.2195)
· References in the article
· Citations to the Article (41) (Citation History)
· Refereed Citations to the Article
· SIMBAD Objects (141)
· Associated Articles
· Also-Read Articles (Reads History)
·
· Translate This Page
Title:
Absolute Calibration and Characterization of the Multiband Imaging Photometer for Spitzer. I. The Stellar Calibrator Sample and the 24 μm Calibration
Authors:
Engelbracht, C. W.; Blaylock, M.; Su, K. Y. L.; Rho, J.; Rieke, G. H.; Muzerolle, J.; Padgett, D. L.; Hines, D. C.; Gordon, K. D.; Fadda, D.; Noriega-Crespo, A.; Kelly, D. M.; Latter, W. B.; Hinz, J. L.; Misselt, K. A.; Morrison, J. E.; Stansberry, J. A.; Shupe, D. L.; Stolovy, S.; Wheaton, Wm. A.; Young, E. T.; Neugebauer, G.; Wachter, S.; Pérez-González, P. G.; Frayer, D. T.; Marleau, F. R.
Affiliation:
AA(Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ; , , , , , , , , , , , , .), AB(Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ; , , , , , , , , , , , , .), AC(Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ; , , , , , , , , , , , , .), AD(Spitzer Science Center, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA; , , , , , , , , , .), AE(Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ; , , , , , , , , , , , , .), AF(Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ; , , , , , , , , , , , , .), AG(Spitzer Science Center, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA; , , , , , , , , , .), AH(Space Science Institute, Boulder, CO; .), AI(Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ; , , , , , , , , , , , , .), AJ(Spitzer Science Center, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA; , , , , , , , , , .), AK(Spitzer Science Center, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA; , , , , , , , , , .), AL(Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ; , , , , , , , , , , , , .), AM(NASA Herschel Science Center, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA; .), AN(Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ; , , , , , , , , , , , , .), AO(Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ; , , , , , , , , , , , , .), AP(Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ; , , , , , , , , , , , , .), AQ(Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ; , , , , , , , , , , , , .), AR(Spitzer Science Center, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA; , , , , , , , , , .), AS(Spitzer Science Center, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA; , , , , , , , , , .), AT(Spitzer Science Center, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA; , , , , , , , , , .), AU(Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ; , , , , , , , , , , , , .), AV(Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ; , , , , , , , , , , , , .), AW(Spitzer Science Center, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA; , , , , , , , , , .), AX(Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ; , , , , , , , , , , , , .; Current address: Departamento de Astrofísica, Facultad de CC. Físicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; .), AY(Spitzer Science Center, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA; , , , , , , , , , .), AZ(Spitzer Science Center, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA; , , , , , , , , , .)
Publication:
The Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, Volume 119, Issue 859, pp. 994-1018. (PASP Homepage)
Publication Date:
09/2007
Origin:
UCP
PASP Keywords:
Astronomical Instrumentation
Abstract Copyright:
(c) 2007: The Astronomical Society of the Pacific
DOI:
10.1086/521881
Bibliographic Code:
2007PASP..119..994E

Abstract

We present the stellar calibrator sample and the conversion from instrumental to physical units for the 24 μm channel of the Multiband Imaging Photometer for Spitzer (MIPS). The primary calibrators are A stars, and the calibration factor based on those stars is 4.54×10-2 MJy sr-1 (DN s-1)-1, with a nominal uncertainty of 2%. We discuss the data reduction procedures required to attain this accuracy; without these procedures, the calibration factor obtained using the automated pipeline at the Spitzer Science Center is 1.6%+/-0.6% lower. We extend this work to predict 24 μm flux densities for a sample of 238 stars that covers a larger range of flux densities and spectral types. We present a total of 348 measurements of 141 stars at 24 μm. This sample covers a factor of ~460 in 24 μm flux density, from 8.6 mJy up to 4.0 Jy. We show that the calibration is linear over that range with respect to target flux and background level. The calibration is based on observations made using 3 s exposures; a preliminary analysis shows that the calibration factor may be 1% and 2% lower for 10 and 30 s exposures, respectively. We also demonstrate that the calibration is very stable: over the course of the mission, repeated measurements of our routine calibrator, HD 159330, show a rms scatter of only 0.4%. Finally, we show that the point-spread function (PSF) is well measured and allows us to calibrate extended sources accurately; Infrared Astronomy Satellite (IRAS) and MIPS measurements of a sample of nearby galaxies are identical within the uncertainties.

Associated Articles

Part 1     Part  2     Part  3     Part  4    

Bibtex entry for this abstract   Preferred format for this abstract (see Preferences)
   

Find Similar Abstracts:

Use: Authors
Title
Keywords (in text query field)
Abstract Text
Return: Query Results Return    items starting with number
Query Form
Database: Astronomy
Physics
arXiv e-prints
    


SAO/NASA ADS Homepage | ADS Sitemap | Query Form | Basic Search | Preferences | HELP | FAQ