JWST MIRI flight performance: Imaging
D. Dicken, M. García-Marín, Irene Shivaei, P. Guillard, Mattia Libralato, Alistair Glasse, Karl D. Gordon, Christophe Cossou, Patrick Kavanagh, Tea Temim, Nicolas Flagey, Pamela Klaassen, G. H. Rieke, Gillian Wright, Stacey Alberts, R. Azzollini, Javier Álvarez-Márquez, P. Bouchet, Stacey N. Bright, Misty Cracraft, A. Coulais, Örs Hunor Detre, Mike Engesser, Ori D. Fox, Andras Gáspár, R. Gastaud, Adrian M. Glauser, Dean C. Hines, Sarah Kendrew, Á. Labiano, Pierre-Oliver Lagage, David Lee, David R. Law, Jane Morrison, A. Noriega‐Crespo, Olivia Jones, Polychronis Patapis, Silvia Scheithauer, G. C. Sloan, L Horvath Tamas
Abstract
The Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) aboard the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) provides the observatory with a huge advance in mid-infrared imaging and spectroscopy covering the wavelength range of 5–28 µm. This paper describes the performance and characteristics of the MIRI imager as understood during observatory commissioning activities, and through its first year of science operations. We discuss the measurements and results of the imager’s point spread function, flux calibration, background, distortion and flat fields as well as results pertaining to best observing practices for MIRI imaging, and discuss known imaging artefacts that may be seen during or after data processing. Overall, we show that the MIRI imager has met or exceeded all its pre-flight requirements, and we expect it to make a significant contribution to mid-infrared science for the astronomy community for years to come.