HST Daily Report # 3282
HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE
DAILY REPORT # 3282
PERIOD COVERED: DOY 16
OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED
NICMOS 8790
NICMOS Post-SAA calibration – CR Persistence Part 1.
A new procedure proposed to alleviate the CR-persistence problem of NICMOS.
Dark
frames will be obtained immediately upon exiting the SAA contour 23, and
every
time a NICMOS exposure is scheduled within 50 minutes of coming out of the
SAA.
The darks will be obtained in parallel in all three NICMOS Cameras. The
POST-SAA
darks will be non-standard reference files available to users with a
USEAFTER
date/time mark.
STIS/CCD 9066
Closing in on the Hydrogen Reionization Edge of the Universe.
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used in parallel
constrain
the Hydrogen reionization edge in emission that marks the transition from a
neutral to a fully ionized IGM at a predicted redshifts.
HST 9382
A Large Targeted Survey for z < 1.6 Damped Lyman Alpha Lines in SDSS QSO
MgII-FeII Systems.
and found over 200 large rest equivalent width MgII-FeII systems.
Previously, we
empirically showed that such systems are good tracers of large neutral gas
columns, with ~50% being classical damped Lyman alpha {DLA} systems
{N_HI>=2*10^20 cm^-2}. Here we propose to follow up a well-defined subset of
79
of them to search for DLAs with 0.47<z<1.60. Only QSOs brighter than g’=19
were
selected. The QSO emission and DLA absorption redshifts were constrained to
virtually eliminate data loss due to intervening Lyman limit absorption.
Consequently, we expect to discover ~40 new DLAs, which is a three-fold
increase
in this redshift interval. This will significantly improve our earlier
low-z DLA
statistical results on their incidence, cosmological mass density, and N_HI
distribution. The results will also allow us to better quantify the
empirical
DLA — metal-line correlation. With this improved understanding, the need
for
follow-up UV spectroscopy will lessen and, with the release of the final
database of SDSS QSO spectra {an ~25-fold increase}, the number of low-z
DLAs
could be increased arbitrarily. Thus, the power of the large and
statistically-sound SDSS database in combination with a proven technique for
finding low-z DLAs will, over the next few years, essentially solve the
problem
of making an accurate determination of the cosmic evolution of the neutral
gas
component down to z~0.4.
ACS 9438
The Origin of the Intergalactic Globular Cluster Population in Abell 1185
population of intergalactic globular clusters in the core of the rich galaxy
cluster Abell 1185. Our previous WFPC2 observations of this field {GO-8164}
revealed an excess of five times the number of objects at the expected
magnitudes of globular clusters compared to the Hubble Deep Fields. The
colors
and luminosity function of these intergalactic globular clusters will place
strong constraints on their origin, which in turn will yield new insights
to the
evolution of galaxy populations in dense environments
NICMOS 9484
The NICMOS Parallel Observing Program
We propose to manage the default set of pure parallels with NICMOS. Our
experience with both our GO NICMOS parallel program and the public parallel
NICMOS programs in cycle 7 prepared us to make optimal use of the parallel
opportunities. The NICMOS G141 grism remains the most powerful survey tool
for
HAlpha emission-line galaxies at cosmologically interesting redshifts. It is
particularly well suited to addressing two key uncertainties regarding the
global history of star formation: the peak rate of star formation in the
relatively unexplored but critical 1<= z <= 2 epoch, and the amount of star
formation missing from UV continuum-based estimates due to high extinction.
Our
proposed deep G141 exposures will increase the sample of known HAlpha
emission-
line objects at z ~ 1.3 by roughly an order of magnitude. We will also
obtain a
mix of F110W and F160W images along random sight-lines to examine the space
density and morphologies of the reddest galaxies. The nature of the
extremely
red galaxies remains unclear and our program of imaging and grism
spectroscopy
provides unique information regarding both the incidence of obscured star
bursts and the build up of stellar
mass at intermediate redshifts. In addition to carrying out the parallel
program
we will populate a public database with calibrated spectra and images, and
provide limited ground- based optical and near-IR data for the deepest
parallel
fields.
ACS/WFC 9492
Extragalactic Distances: the Need for Accurate Photometry of Blue
Supergiants
and Cepheids
The investigation of the Wind Momentum-Luminosity Relationship {WLR} of blue
supergiant stars as an independent extragalactic distance indicator has
reached
a critical phase. Following our recent discovery and spectroscopic follow-up
of
several tens of stars outside of the Local Group in NGC 300 and NGC 3621,
we can
now calibrate the WLR in terms of spectral subtype and metallicity with a
higher
accuracy than hithertho possible with the statistically limited samples
available in the nearby galaxies studied so far. This, however, requires
high-resolution imaging to obtain accurate BVI photometry of a significant
fraction of those stars for which we have spectroscopic information. This
can be
effectively accomplished with eight ACS/WFC fields in these two galaxies. As
a
further step, we can use the calibrated WLR to measure the first independent
extragalactic distance. We then propose additional imaging of six ACS/WFC
fields
in M101 to select blue supergiant candidates for spectroscopic follow-up.
Having
recently discovered more than a hundred new Cepheids in NGC 300, the
high-resolution imaging proposed for the photometry of blue supergiants can
also
be used, with no additional observing effort, to verify the effects of
blending
on the Cepheid distance to this galaxy, an important calibrator of secondary
distance indicators.
ACS/WFC 9575
Default {Archival} Pure Parallel Program.
The Advanced Camera for Surveys (WFC) was used to test ACS pure parallels in
POMS.
WFPC2 9594
WFPC2 CYCLE 11 SUPPLEMENTAL DARKS pt2/3
This dark calibration program obtains 3 dark frames every day to provide
data
for monitoring and characterizing the evolution of hot pixels
WFPC2 9598
Earth Flats
This proposal monitors flatfield stability. This proposal obtains sequences
of
Earth streak flats to construct high quality flat fields for the WFPC2
filter
set. These flat fields will allow mapping of the OTA illumination pattern
and
will be used in conjunction with previous internal and external flats to
generate new pipeline superflats. These Earth flats will complement the
Earth
flat data obtained during cycles 4-10.
WFPC2 9599
WFPC2 Cycle 11 UV Earth Flats
Monitor flat field stability. This proposal obtains sequences of earth
streak
flats to improve the quality of pipeline flat fields for the WFPC2 UV filter
set. These Earth flats will complement the UV earth flat data obtained
during
cycles 8-10.
STIS 9605
CCD Dark Monitor-Part 1
STIS 9607
CCD Bias Monitor – Part 1
high-S/N superbiases and track the evolution of hot columns.
STIS 9627
CCD Sensitivity Monitor for Cycle 11
Also monitor the STIS focus in an imaging mode
STIS/CAL 9628
MAMA Sensitivity and Focus Monitor Cycle 11
Monitor sensitivity of each MAMA grating mode to detect any change due to
contamination or other causes. Also monitor the STIS focus in a
spectroscopic
and imaging mode.
STIS 9633
STIS parallel archive proposal – Nearby Galaxies – Imaging and Spectroscopy
Using parallel opportunities with STIS which were not allocated by the TAC,
we
propose to obtain deep STIS imagery with both the Clear {50CCD} and
Long-Pass
{F28X50LP} filters in order to make color-magnitude diagrams and luminosity
functions for nearby galaxies. For local group galaxies, we also include
G750L
slitless spectroscopy to search for e.g., Carbon stars, late M giants and
S-type
stars. 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.
WFPC2 9634
POMS Test Proposal: WFII targeted parallel archive proposal
The parallel opportunities available with WFPC2 in the neighborhood of
bright
galaxies are treated in a slightly different way from the normal pure
parallels.
Local Group galaxies offer the opportunity for a closer look at young
stellar
populations. Narrow-band images in F656N can be used both to identify young
stars via their emission lines, and to map the gas distribution in
star-forming
regions. Thus, the filter F656N is added to the four standard filters. Near
more
distant galaxies, up to about 10 Mpc, we can map the population of globular
clusters; for this purpose, F300W is less useful, and only F450W, F606W, and
F814W will be used.
ACS 9654
ACS photometric Stability
A spectrophotometric standard star {GRW+705824} is observed through all ACS
filters once to assess the sensitivity of the instrument. The star is placed
at
the centre of the aperture, and two images are taken through each filter.
This
programme is based on proposal 9020 designed for SMOV and on programme 9563
from
the interim period. All the SBC filters {except Lyman alpha F122M} and all
UV
filters of the HRC are tested as part of other programmes and are not listed
here. As regards ramp filters, only one central wavelength is tested per
filter.
The exposure times have been selected to reach, on average, SNR~350 in the
central pixel for broad band filters.
ACS 9673
CCD Daily Monitor
This program consists of basic tests to monitor, the read noise, the
development
of hot pixels and test for any source of noise in ACS CCD detectors. This
programme will be executed once a day for the entire lifetime of ACS
WFPC2 9676
POMS Test Proposal: WFII parallel archive proposal
This is the 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 2002 Parallels Working Group.
WFPC2 9699
POMS Test Proposal: WFII backup parallel archive proposal
This is a POMS test proposal designed to simulate scientific plans.
STIS 9706
STIS Pure Parallel Imaging Program: Cycle 10
This is the default archival pure parallel program for STIS during cycle 10.
FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:
Significant Spacecraft Anomalies: (The following are preliminary reports of
potential non-nominal performance that will be investigated.) None
COMPLETED OPS REQs:
16891-0 Canberra Script for Day 016 @ 016/1750z
OPS NOTES EXECUTED:
0910-2 SI Console response to MCE Resets after FSW 4.8 is activated @
017/0022z
1063-1 NICMOS RAD 2 Temperature Limit Increase @ 017/0315z
1063-3 NICMOS RAD 2 Temperature Limit Increase @ 017/0509z
SCHEDULED SUCCESSFUL FAILURE TIMES
FGS GSacq 6 6
FGS REacq 8 8
FHST Update 16 16
LOSS of LOCK
SIGNIFICANT EVENTS: None
