The Resolved Stellar Populations Early Release Science Program
Stellar Populations
PI: Daniel Weisz
View Webinar Video
Program Details
Astrometry
Color-Magnitude Diagrams
Dwarf Galaxies
Local Group Galaxies
Star-Formation Histories
Jay Anderson
Martha L. Boyer
Andrew A. Cole
Andrew Eugene Dolphin
Marla C. Geha
Jason S. Kalirai
Nitya Kallivayalil
Kristen B. W. McQuinn
Karin Marie Sandstrom
Benjamin F. Williams
We propose to obtain deep multi-band NIRCam and NIRISS imaging of three resolved stellar systems within 1 Mpc (NOI 104). We will use this broad science program to optimize observational setups and to develop data reduction techniques that will be common to JWST studies of resolved stellar populations. We will combine our expertise in HST resolved star studies with these observations to design, test, and release point spread function (PSF) fitting software specific to JWST. PSF photometry is at the heart of resolved stellar populations studies, but is not part of the standard JWST reduction pipeline.
Our program will establish JWST-optimized methodologies in six scientific areas: star formation histories, measurement of the sub-Solar mass stellar IMF, extinction maps, evolved stars, proper motions, and globular clusters, all of which will be common pursuits for JWST in the local Universe. Our observations of globular cluster M92, ultra-faint dwarf Draco II, and star-forming dwarf WLM, will be of high archival value for other science such as calibrating stellar evolution models, measuring properties of variable stars, and searching for metal-poor stars.
We will release the results of our program, including PSF fitting software, matched HST and JWST catalogs, clear documentation, and step-by-step tutorials (e.g., Jupyter notebooks) for data reduction and science application, to the community prior to the Cycle 2 Call for Proposals. We will host a workshop to help community members plan their Cycle 2 observations of resolved stars. Our program will provide blueprints for the community to efficiently reduce and analyze JWST observations of resolved stellar populations.
NIRCam: Imaging
NIRISS: Imaging
- Develop NIRCam and NIRISS PSF photometry modules for DOLPHOT
- Provide guidance and tutorials on how to perform optimal NIRCam and NIRISS photometry
- Construct NIRCam and NIRISS catalogs
- Empirically calibrate the ETC for NIRCam and NIRISS imaging
- Demonstrate how exposure time and filter combinations affect analysis of resolved stellar populations (e.g., measuring star formation histories and proper motions)
- Webinars
- Proposal Planning workshop prior to Cycle 2
- Interactive online tutorials and Jupyter notebooks
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The NASA James Webb Space Telescope, developed in partnership with ESA and CSA, is operated by AURA’s Space Telescope Science Institute.