The Exposure Time Calculator (ETC) is a tool to predict the performances of the spectrometer for different parameters and environmental conditions.
The ETC computes:
- the limiting magnitude (in AB units) achievable at a given wavelength, in a given exposure time and at a given signal to noise ratio and the limiting surface brightness (in AB mag/arcsec2) achievable at a given wavelength, in a given exposure time and at a given signal to noise ratio;
- the signal to noise ratio achievable for a compact source at a given wavelength, in a given exposure time and at a given AB magnitude;
- the signal to noise ratio achievable for an extended source at a given wavelength, in a given exposure time and at a given surface brightness.
The ETC takes into accounts a number of instrumental end environmental parameters that can be modified to evaluate their effect on the overall performances of the spectrograph.
ETC for limiting magnitude and limiting surface brightness