13.1 Introduction
The information in this chapter will help you to select a detector, grating configuration, and observing aperture, and to develop your observing plan. For each grating, the following information is provided:
- A brief description of the grating, with special considerations for its use.
- Grating parameters, including the dispersion and plate scale.
- Plots showing the available central-wavelength settings and the range of wavelengths covered by each setting and (for the FUV gratings)
FP-POSposition. - Plots and tables of sensitivities and effective areas as a function of wavelength.
- Plots of signal-to-noise ratio as a function of STMAG, Fλ, and exposure time.
Note that the quoted sensitivities are estimates for mid-Cycle 23 (April 2016). The COS Exposure Time Calculator (ETC) will be updated as the instrument's sensitivity continues to evolve. See the COS website for the latest information.
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COS Instrument Handbook
- Acknowledgments
- Chapter 1: An Introduction to COS
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Chapter 2: Special Considerations for Cycle 28
- • 2.1 COS FUV Detector Lifetime Positions
- • 2.2 Central Wavelength Settings Added in Cycle 26
- • 2.3 Use of the G285M Grating is Discouraged
- • 2.4 COS Observations Below 1150 Angstroms: Resolution and Wavelength Calibration Issues
- • 2.5 Time-Dependent Sensitivity Changes
- • 2.6 Spectroscopic Use of the Bright Object Aperture
- • 2.7 Non-Optimal Observing Scenarios
- • 2.8 NUV Spectroscopic Acquisitions
- • 2.9 SNAP, TOO, and Unpredictable Source Programs with COS
- • 2.10 Choosing between COS and STIS
- Chapter 3: Description and Performance of the COS Optics
- Chapter 4: Description and Performance of the COS Detectors
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Chapter 5: Spectroscopy with COS
- • 5.1 The Capabilities of COS
- • 5.2 TIME-TAG vs. ACCUM Mode
- • 5.3 Valid Exposure Times
- • 5.4 Estimating the BUFFER-TIME in TIME-TAG Mode
- • 5.5 Spanning the Gap with Multiple CENWAVE Settings
- • 5.6 FUV Single-Segment Observations
- • 5.7 Internal Wavelength Calibration Exposures
- • 5.8 Fixed-Pattern Noise
- • 5.9 COS Spectroscopy of Extended Sources
- • 5.10 Wavelength Settings and Ranges
- Chapter 6: Imaging with COS
- Chapter 7: Exposure-Time Calculator - ETC
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Chapter 8: Target Acquisitions
- • 8.1 Introduction
- • 8.2 Target Acquisition Overview
- • 8.3 ACQ SEARCH Acquisition Mode
- • 8.4 ACQ IMAGE Acquisition Mode
- • 8.5 ACQ PEAKXD Acquisition Mode
- • 8.6 ACQ PEAKD Acquisition Mode
- • 8.7 Exposure Times
- • 8.8 Centering Accuracy and Data Quality
- • 8.9 Recommended Parameters for all COS TA Modes
- • 8.10 Special Cases
- Chapter 9: Scheduling Observations
- Chapter 10: Bright-Object Protection
- Chapter 11: Data Products and Data Reduction
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Chapter 12: The COS Calibration Program
- • 12.1 Introduction
- • 12.2 Ground Testing and Calibration
- • 12.3 SMOV4 Testing and Calibration
- • 12.4 COS Monitoring Programs
- • 12.5 Cycle 17 Calibration Program
- • 12.6 Cycle 18 Calibration Program
- • 12.7 Cycle 19 Calibration Program
- • 12.8 Cycle 20 Calibration Program
- • 12.9 Cycle 21 Calibration Program
- • 12.10 Cycle 22 Calibration Program
- • 12.11 Cycle 23 Calibration Program
- • 12.12 Cycle 24 Calibration Program
- • 12.13 Cycle 25 Calibration Program
- • 12.14 Cycle 26 Calibration Program
- • 12.15 Cycle 27 Calibration Program
- Chapter 13: Spectroscopic Reference Material
- • Glossary