NASA Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report #4754

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE DAILY REPORT #4754

Continuing to collect World Class Science

PERIOD COVERED: 5am December 10 – 5am December 11, 2008 (DOY 345/1000z-346/1000z)

OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED

ACS/SBC 11110

Searching for Lyman Apha Emission from FUSE Lyman Continuum Candidates

We have recently been granted time on FUSE to characterize the escape fraction of hydrogen Lyman continuum (Lyc) photons from a morphologically diverse set of star forming galaxies. The FUSE program is designed to provide ~ 5 sigma detections of Lyc photons emitted from star forming galaxies with escape fractions ~5%. With this proposal we seek hydrogen Lyman alpha (Lya) observations of a representative subset of the FUSE program targets to constrain the observational relationship between Lyc, Lya, and hydrogen Balmer line emission in these systems. Such observations explore the detailed balance between the simple optically thin (Case A) and optically thick (Case B) limits in recombination theory. The ultimate goal of this program is to quantify the relationship between escaping Lya and Lyc emission and the first structures that form in the early universe.

FGS 11942

Increasing the Accuracy of HST Astrometry with FGS1R

We propose to observe six exoplanetary system host stars and two planetary nebulae central stars with FGS1r. All objects have been previously observed under proposals GO-09233, -09969, -10989, and -11210. These observations will significantly extend the time baseline, permitting improvements in the determination of proper motion. This systematic motion must be removed to get at the perturbation of interest, either due to exoplanetary companions or the orbital motion of the Earth (parallax). In most cases the perturbation orbits will also improve. We improve either companion mass or PN parallax. For one target, GJ 876, theoretical dynamical modelers have proposed an inclination closer to 50 degrees, while FGS3 measurements indicated an inclination closer to 84 degrees. These new data, once combined with our older FGS3 data, will permit an independent remeasurement of the inclination of the outermost companion, and a re-evaluation of widely used dynamical algorithms.

FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

Significant Spacecraft Anomalies: (The following are preliminary reports of potential non-nominal performance that will be investigated.)

HSTARS: (None)

COMPLETED OPS REQUEST:

18370-0 – Adjust NCS CPL Setpoint

COMPLETED OPS NOTES:

1760-0 – Monitor NCS CPL for Indication of Flood

                        SCHEDULED      SUCCESSFUL

FGS GSacq               06                  06
FGS REacq               05                  05
OBAD with Maneuver      22                  22

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS:

FLASH Report: MIL Engineering Test

MIL Engineering Test Pass was successfully executed at 345/19:41 – 19:51.