Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report #2646 06/16/00

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE
 
  DAILY REPORT #2646
 
PERIOD COVERED:  0000Z (UTC) 06/15/00 – 0000Z (UTC) 06/16/00
 
Daily Status Report as of 168/0000Z
 
1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:
 
    1.1 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 8461 (Cycle 8 Supplemental Darks pt3/3)
 
        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 proposal completed nominally.
 
    1.2 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.
 
    1.3 Completed WF/PC-2 7282 (A Continuing Snapshot Survey for Compact Stellar Groups and Clusters around Wolf-Rayet Stars)
 
        The WF/PC-2 was used to make observations of the Wolf-Rayet star WR17 as part of a continuing snapshot survey of compact stellar groups and clusters.  The newly-imaged clusters allow us to accurately determine the distances, luminosities, and ages of the WR members.  The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted.
 
    1.4 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.
 
    1.5 Completed STIS/CCD/MA2 8126 (Observations Of QSO Pairs)
 
        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA2) was used to obtain ultraviolet spectra of four QSO pairs with similar common redshift ranges {z ~ 0.7–1} and projected linear separations gradually increasing from ~0.5 to sim1 h^-1_100 Mpc.  This is being done to: {i} to probe the extension and structure of gaseous complexes giving rise to the formation of LyAlpha absorption lines at intermediate redshift {z ~ 0.9}, {ii} to investigate the transversal proximity effect of the foreground quasar along the line of sight to the background quasar; and {iii} study the environment in which QSOs reside and in particular the presence of gas around the foreground quasar.  The observations completed nominally.
 
    1.6 Completed WF/PC-2 8459 (Decontaminations and Associated Observations Pt. 2/2)
 
        The WF/PC-2 was used to perform the monthly decons.  Also included are instrument monitors tied to decons: photometric stability check, focus monitor, pre- and post-decon internals {bias, intflats, kspots, & darks}, and UV throughput checks.  The observations were completed nominally.
 
    1.7 Completed Three 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.
 
    1.8 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.  As described in yesterday’s report and in HSTAR 7671, the acquisition for this proposal defaulted to fine lock on one FGS only, possibly affecting all
observations.  Otherwise, the observations completed with no further reported problems.
 
    1.9 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD 8437 (Dark Monitor-Part 2 C8)
 
        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to monitor the darks.  As described in yesterday’s report and in HSTAR 7671, the acquisition for the first iteration of this proposal defaulted to fine lock on one FGS only, possibly affecting all observations.  Otherwise, the proposal completed nominally.
 
    1.10 Completed STIS/MA1/MA2 8144 (UV Spectroscopic Snapshots of FUSE AGN Targets)
 
        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD, MA1 and MA2) was used to make far ultraviolet spectrographic snapshot observations of the FUSE AGN target PG0947+396.  This object is currently scheduled to be observed by the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer {FUSE}.  The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted.
 
    1.11 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 8473 (Key Project: The Nuclear Region Of NGC 4151 Observations)
 
        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to observe the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 4151.  This galaxy will be studied in several ways. 1} low-resolution spectra over the entire UV and visible range will be obtained through a slit at several different orientations to model the physical conditions in the emission-line regions; 2} slitless and long-slit spectra of strong emission lines at moderate resolution and narrow-band WFPC2 images will be used to map the dynamics of the regions; 3} echelle spectra over the entire UV bandpass will be used to study the intrinsic absorption in the nucleus; and 4} parallel imaging will be performed of the outer galaxy and other galaxies or QSOs.  There were no reported problems.
 
    1.12 Completed WF/PC-2 8669 (Merger-Driven Evolution Of Galactic Nuclei: Observations Of The Toomre Sequence)
 
        The WF/PC-2 was used to observe galaxy mergers that are believed responsible for triggering starburst and AGN activity in galaxies, and even perhaps transforming spiral galaxies into ellipticals.  The proposal completed nominally.
 
    1.13 Completed STIS/MA1 8433 (Angle Corrections for MAMA)
 
        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (MA1) was used to run a test in order to provide incidence angle corrections for MAMA observations using non-concentric slits.  The proposal completed with no reported problems.
 
    1.14 Completed WF/PC-2 7409 (Resolving sdB Binary Systems)
 
        The WF/PC-2 was used to make observations to try to resolve the sdB class binary system Star-03394.  The observations were completed as scheduled, and no anomalies were reported.
 
    1.15 Completed STIS/CCD 8640 (A Public STIS Survey of the Host Galaxies of Gamma-Ray Bursts)
 
        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to obtain high-resolution images of the fields containing gamma-ray burst with well-localized coordinates; i.e. the burst has been localized to within approximately one arcsecond.  The goal of this survey is to obtain a uniform sample of images of the host galaxies of these bursts.  There were no reported problems.
 
    1.16 Completed WF/PC-2 8544 (POMS Test Proposal: WFII Backup Parallel Archive Proposal II)
 
        The WF/PC-2 was used to execute a POMS test proposal that was designed to simulate scientific plans.  No problems were encountered.
 
    1.17 Completed WF/PC-2/STIS/CCD 8697 (Stellar Populations in the Disk-Halo Interface of NGC 55)
 
        The WF/PC-2 and the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to investigate the disk-halo interface which is where the global effects of stellar feedback on the ISM are expected to be most
pronounced.  Our deep ground-based emission–line images of the nearby, edge–on SBm galaxy NGC 55 provide a particularly spectacular example of this phenomenon. The observations completed with no anomalous activity.
 
2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:
 
    2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:
      Scheduled Acquisitions: 10
Successful: 10
 
        The acquisition at 168/074552Z defaulted to fine lock backup on FGS-3 only when the scan step limit was exceeded on FGS-2.  HSTAR 7673 was written.  A proposal, STIS 8265, occurring during the period of the next report may have been affected.
  Scheduled Re-acquisitions:  7
Successful:  7
 
    2.2 FHST Updates:
Scheduled: 21
Successful: 19
 
        Per HSTAR 7672, the full maneuver updates at 168/073946Z and at 168/074231Z failed due to tracker 2.  The subsequent acquisition defaulted to fine lock backup on one FGS only (see 2.1).
 
    2.3 Operations Notes:
 
        The operations team remains in the Building 23 backup facility.
 
        Using ROP SR-1A, the SSR EDAC error counter was cleared twice.
 
        At 167/1944Z, the secondary mirror was moved +3.6 microns to correct for the desorption of the telescope structure.  Actuators 25, 27, and 29 were moved +6 steps while actuators 26, 28 and 30 were move -6 steps.  There were no problems.
 
        One three occasions during the early part of day 168, the engineering status buffer limit was increased upward in accordance with ROP DF-18A.
 
3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:
 
        Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.
 
/CAW