Enhanced NICER Visibility Tool
NICER Detailed Visibility
IMPORTANT!: Changes to ISS events (such as launch times for ISS-bound spacecraft) may modify these visibility predictions.
This visibility calculator uses up-to-date ISS attitude information for the next two weeks in order to calculate more accurate visibility windows for a given target. The input products take into account blockage by ISS structures, as planned at the time the attitude product was created. The calculator will also take into account other NICER constraints, such as sun/moon restrictions.
CAVEATS
Please note the following:- The NICER team has no control over the ISS attitude and orientation. As a result, actual visibilities may differ significantly from these predictions. Rapid changes in the duration of visibility windows over a short period of time are likely due to orientation changes by the ISS, and will be subject to time shifts as they move closer to the start time for the ISS product.
- There is no guarantee that a given visibility window is available for observation of a specified target. Scheduling conflicts with targets that have time-critical observations may have higher priority. If possible, please consider multiple visibility windows when making TOO requests so that schedulers have some flexibility.
If you have any questions about this information, please contact the NICER Helpdesk via the HEASARC Feedback Form.
Detailed Visibility Report - Input
Visibility windows can only be calculated between: 2024-11-05 12:00:00 and 2024-11-20 12:00:00
This tool requires the Right Ascension and Declination of the target in decimal degrees. You may also restrict the output to specific time periods, or define a minimum visibility window, to refine the output somewhat.