TELESCOPE IMAGE MODELING (TIM)

The Telescope Image Modeling (TIM) software has been designed to simul ate a polychromatic image of a large number of point sources with know n colors, as recorded on a pixellated detector after reimaging through an optical system of known characteristics. Though developed primaril y for images produced by the Hubble Space Telescope and its scientific instruments, it is general enough for wider application. The software is modular and produces monochromatic point-spread functions and modu lation-transfer functions at intermediate stages. Details of known opt ical aberrations of the system, microroughness scatter from the telesc ope mirrors, telescope pupil aberrations, pointing jitter, photon nois e and detector defects can all be included.