Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report #2636 06/02/00
HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE
DAILY REPORT #2636
PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 06/01/00 – 0000Z (UTC) 06/02/00
Daily Status Report as of 154/0000Z
1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:
1.1 Completed STIS/CCD 8202 (Bright Quasar Close Lensing Search)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to make observations of HCLQ0125-0 as part of a second generation survey to search for bright lensing quasars. With the restored PSF, new images will be considerably more sensitive to the presence of both close separation and faint lens components, and because STIS reaches two magnitudes fainter the PC, the new snapshot images will have much greater dynamic range. The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted.
1.2 Completed 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.
1.3 Completed Three Sets of WF/PC-2 8460 (Cycle 8 Supplemental Darks pt2/3)
The WF/PC-2 was used to obtain three dark frames every day to provide data for monitoring and characterizing the evolution of hot pixels. The observations completed with no reported problems.
1.4 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1/MA2 8265 (Reverberation Mapping of a Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 Galaxy)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD, MA1 and MA2) was used to monitor the UV spectral variability of the narrow-line Seyfert 1 {NLS1} galaxy AKN 564 at 46 epochs in order to measure the size of the broad emission-line region via reverberation-mapping techniques. This measurement, and the virial mass estimate that follows from it, will provide a key test of NLS1 models and help determine the physical mechanism that underlies the principal component of AGN spectra, the Boroson–Green primary eigenvector. These observations will be undertaken in parallel with X-ray and ground-based optical observations that will allow us for the first time to explore the multiwavelength variability characteristics of this important subclass of active galactic nuclei. The observations completed with no reported problems.
1.5 Completed WF/PC-2 8118 (Snapshot Survey of Galactic Globular Clusters0
The WF/PC-2 was used to make observations of crowded centers of globular clusters {GCs} which have produced intriguing discoveries of new phenomena, most of which are not understood theoretically. This is a continuation of a Cycle 7 snapshot proposal, to extend such work to a much larger portion of the Galactic GC system. The observations completed nominally, with no reported problems.
1.6 Completed STIS/CCD 8410 (STIS CCD Hot Pixel Annealing C8)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to assess the effectiveness of the CCD hot pixel annealing process by measuring the dark current behavior before and after annealing and by searching for any window contamination effects. In addition CTE performance is examined by looking for traps in a low signal level flat. The observations were completed as planned, and no anomalies were reported.
1.7 Completed Three Sets of WF/PC-2 8698 (Identification of the Galaxy’s Missing Mass)
The WF/PC-2 was used to observe the nature of dark matter which is one of the key astrophysical questions of the day. The existence of dark matter and its dynamical dominance in the outer parts of our Galaxy and spiral galaxies with flat rotation curves is well established. The MACHO project has identified ~half of the Milky Way’s dark matter with stellar objects of ~0.5 M_sun, probably white dwarfs. But the location of the microlensing in the halo is disputed. Several have detected two candidate halo white dwarfs of L/L_sun ~ 10^-5 in the Hubble Deep Field with 25 +/- 5 mas/year proper motions. The observations completed with no reported problems.
1.8 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 8139 (Probing an Ancient Thermonuclear Runaway on a White Dwarf in a Dwarf Nova)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to probe the ancient thermonuclear runaway on a white dwarf. Evidence was unexpectedly discovered, based upon two GHRS G160M spectra, of greatly elevated abundances of odd-numbered nuclei Phosphorus and Aluminum, as well as a Nitrogen-to-Carbon ratio of 10 in the photosphere of the white dwarf in the dwarf nova VW Hyons. This proposal intends to {1} determine the first chemical abundances of many odd-numbered proton capture species; {2} determine a accurate mass for the white dwarf and; {3} probe changes in the accretion belt and surface abundances as a function of time since a superoutburst. The proposal completed nominally.
1.9 Completed STIS/CCD 8439 (Bias Monitor-Part 2 C8)
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 with no reported problems.
1.10 Completed WF/PC-2 8192 (A Snapshot Survey of Probable Nearby Galaxies)
The WF/PC-2 was used to make a snapshot survey images of a probable nearby galaxy KK155. The census of galaxies in the Local Volume of space is very incomplete, particularly at the faint end. The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted.
1.11 Completed STIS/CCD 8437 (Dark Monitor-Part 2 C8)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to monitor the darks. The proposal completed nominally.
1.12 Completed Three Sets of STIS/CCD 8407 (STIS CCD Performance Monitor {Cycle 8})
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to run a Cycle-8 CCD performance monitor program. This activity measures the baseline performance and commandability of the CCD subsystem. Only primary amplifier D is used. A dark calibration image was also taken. The observations were executed as scheduled, and no problems were reported.
1.13 Completed Three 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.
2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:
2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:
Scheduled Acquisitions: 9
Successful: 9
Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 10
Successful: 10
2.2 FHST Updates:
Scheduled: 20
Successful: 20
2.3 Operations Notes:
Using ROP IC-2, SSA transmitter #2 was turned on and off once.
The NSSC-1 status buffer was dumped at 153/1440Z.
3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:
Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.
