Spitzer Observer's Manual - Warm Mission

The Spitzer Observer's Manual - Warm Mission (Warm SOM) is the essential technical reference manual for Spitzer observers. The Warm SOM provides technical information about the design, performance and operational constraints of Spitzer. It includes technical information on planning, editing and submitting Spitzer observations. There are separate Calls for Proposals that include the programmatic information needed to submit a Spitzer proposal.

Getting the Document

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Looking for the Spitzer cryogenic mission SOM? It is located here (PDF, 15.53 MB).

Observing Modes - AOTs

When can my AORs be observed?

Background Estimates in Sensitivity Plots

Bright Object Lists

Constraints - Definitions and Tips

Field of View Rotation




Memo on IRAC signal-to-noise ratio calculation - Updated 14 April 2010


• Download snirac_warm.pro
• Changes in version 2 of SNIRAC_WARM tool:
• The revisions include a correction of the read noise estimation (previously the code was not multiplying by the number of pixels in the source aperture), GAIN and FLUXCONVs appropriate for the warm mission, updated readnoise estimates, use of a default aperture in the calculation (3 pixel radius, 3-7 pixel background annulus; this should be appropriate for most observations), replacement of the frame time with exposure time, which is more appropriate, and an appropriate scaling of the input flux by an aperture correction to properly estimate the number of electrons in the source aperture.
• All routines have had their names changed to include _warm_ to prevent collisions with the cryogenic snirac procedures/functions.
• Changes in version 2.3 of SNIRAC_WARM tool:
• Adjusted the code to more appropriately account for Fowler sampling