Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report #2706 09/13/00
HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE
DAILY REPORT #2706
PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 09/12/00 – 0000Z (UTC) 09/13/00
Daily Status Report as of 257/0000Z
1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:
1.1 Completed STIS/CCD 8700 (A STIS Spectroscopic Snapshot Survey of 3CR Radio Galaxies : The Nature of the Unresolved Nuclei)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to perform STIS snapshot long-slit spectroscopy of these nuclei over 2900- 10300 AA to classify them {QSO, NLRG, BLRG, BL Lac, ldots} and establish their AGN characteristics down to the lowest nuclear luminosities, while still within powerful 3C radio galaxies. The primary goals are : {1} to test unification schemes by identifying previously undetected signatures of low-level AGN/QSO activity in their spectra in the form of weak, broad emission lines, featureless continua, and UV excess, {2} to constrain the FR I/BL Lac connection by measuring the relative contribution of thermal {starburst}, non-thermal {optical synchrotron}, and line emission, and {3} to perform line and continuum diagnostics to determine the dominant ionization mechanisms in the circumnuclear regions {tenths of arcseconds} and the role of dust extinction in the NLRGs and BLRGs in the form of geometrically thick or thin tori and foreground dust. The proposal completed as planned, with no reported anomalies.
1.2 Completed STIS/CCD/MA2 8096 (The Interstellar Medium Near To And Beyond The Galactic Center)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA2) was used to observe a B-type supergiant, LS 4825, which lies on the far side of the Galaxy, at a galactocentric distance of R_G = 12 kpc, and whose sightline passes within 1 kpc of the Galactic Center. Optical ionCa2 and ionNa1 interstellar observations of LS 4825 reveal a miriad of intermediate and high velocity clouds, several of which arise from gas near to and beyond the Galactic Center. We propose to obtain medium resolution STIS spectra, primarily to observe the ultraviolet interstellar lines towards LS 4825. The observations completed nominally.
1.3 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 8805 (POMS Test Proposal: WFII Parallel Archive Proposal Continuation)
The WF/PC-2 was used to perform a generic target version of the WFPC2 Archival Pure Parallel program. The program will be used to take parallel images of random areas of the sky, following the recommendations of the Parallels Working. The proposal completed with no reported problems.
1.4 Completed STIS/CCD 8838 (Bias Monitor – Part 1)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to monitor the bias in the 1×1, 1×2, 2×1, and 2×2 bin settings at gain=1, and 1×1 at gain = 4, to build up high-S/N superbiases and track the evolution of hot columns. The proposal completed nominally.
1.5 Completed STIS/MA1 8426 (Cycle 8 MAMA Dark Measurements)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (MA1) was used to make a routine Cycle-8 MAMA dark noise calibration measurement. This proposal will provide the primary means of checking on the health of the MAMA detectors. This is done through frequent monitoring of the background count rate. The observations were completed as planned, and no problems were reported.
1.6 Completed WF/PC-2/STIS/CCD/MA1 8565 (Where Does Lyman Alpha Escape from Galaxy Disks?)
The WF/PC-2 and the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) were used to observe the frequent detection of Lyman Alpha emission at high redshifts and to understand how it arises in nearby galaxies. Despite the obstacles posed by radiative transfer, empirically the significant Lyman Alpha emerges from some nearby galaxies. Data on M33, in particular, suggest that much of this escape could be from the diffuse ISM rather than from H II regions specifically, an idea with some theoretical attraction as well. The observations completed with no reported problems.
1.6 Completed STIS/CCD 8259 (The Origin of Blue Wings on NLR Line Profiles)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to attempt understanding the kinematics of the Narrow Line Region {NLR} in Seyfert galaxies. The observational signature being looked for is the famous `blue wing’ found on the OIIILambda5007 lines of almost all Seyfert
galaxies. The proposal completed with no reported problems.
1.8 Completed WF/PC-2 8110 (Supernova Remnants in a Cloudy Interstellar Medium)
The WF/PC-2 was used to observe small cloudlets in the interstellar medium {ISM} that may have a marked effect on the physical structure and evolution of supernova remnants {SNRs}. These WFPC2 images can be combined with complementary observations in other wavelength regimes to identify cloudlets inside remnants, trace SNR shock fronts, determine the physical parameters of interior cloudlets and compare them to those of the hot interior, and investigate the evaporation of shocked cloudlets into the hot cavities of the SNRs. There were no reported problems.
1.9 Completed STIS/CCD 7912 (STIS Parallel Archive Proposal – Nearby Galaxies – Imaging and Spectroscopy)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to make parallel observations of nearby galaxies. This survey will be useful to study the star formation histories, chemical evolution, and distances to these galaxies. These data will be placed immediately into the Hubble Data Archive. The observations were completed as scheduled, and no problems were reported.
1.10 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD 8808 (POMS Test Proposal: STIS Non-Scripted Parallel Proposal Continuation III)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to make non-scripted, parallel observations as part of a POMS test proposal. The observations completed with no anomalous activity
1.11 Completed WF/PC-2 8682 (A Snapshot Study of 0bservational Cosmology)
The WF/PC-2 was used to examine the observational constraints on the cosmic star formation history that is currently among the most active fields in observational cosmology. The most widely used tracer of the co-moving volume-averaged star formation rate {SFR} is the UV luminosity density, which early results found to peak at z~1- 2. The apparent identification of the primary epoch of metal production and star formation in the Universe led to intense theoretical and observational
interest. Nevertheless, and remarkably for such a fundamental observation, little is known about the history of star formation in the Universe beyond its global average. There were no reported anomalies.
1.12 Completed WF/PC-2 8597 (The Fueling of Active Nuclei: Why are Active Galaxies Active?)
The WF/PC-2 was used to investigate the accretion onto massive black holes that are believed to be the energy source for AGN. However, evidence for black holes in quiescent galaxies has also been reported. Why are these galaxies inactive? One possibility is that active galaxies are better at providing fuel to the nuclear region than quiescent
galaxies. Other possible fueling mechanisms such as “bars-within-bars” or nuclear spirals cannot be investigated from the ground because they are relatively small features in the ISM. The observations were completed as planned.
1.13 Completed WF/PC-2 8645 (A Survey of Mid-UV Morphology of Nearby Galaxies: Galaxy Structure and Faint Galaxy)
The WF/PC-2 was used to investigate the relation between star formation and the global physical characteristics of galaxies to interpret the morphologies of distant galaxies in terms of their evolutionary status. The observations completed nominally.
1.14 Completed STIS/CCD 8260 (Searching for the Hydrogen Reionization Edge of the Universe at 5HST)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to observe one of 36 parallel orbits {4–5 fields of 5–8 orbits each} to constrain the H Lyman-edge in emission that marks the transition from a neutral to a fully ionized IGM at a predicted zion~eq5–15. This edge is due to recombination from the H Lyman series and Lyman continuum, and can be used to constrain zion, one of the most important unknown quantities in large scale structure and cosmology. The proposal completed nominally
1.15 Completed WF/PC-2 8826 (Cycle 9 Supplemental Darks pt 1)
The WF/PC-2 was used to perform a T dark calibration program that obtains three dark frames every day in order to provide data for monitoring and characterizing the evolution of hot pixels. There were no reported anomalies.
2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:
2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:
Scheduled Acquisitions: 12
Successful: 12
Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 7
Successful: 7
2.2 FHST Updates:
Scheduled: 24
Successful: 24
2.3 Operations Notes:
The STIS MCE-1 reset at 256/125026Z while the low voltage was on and while outside any SAA interval. The STIS flight software error counter was reset at 256/1259Z per ROP NS-12. MAMA-1 was recovered at 256/1406Z via normal SMS commanding.
Using ROP SR-1A, the SSR EDAC error counter was cleared at 257/0503Z.
The 486 engineering status buffer limit for SESBSLD was adjusted at 257/0922Z, using ROP DF-18A.
3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:
Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.
