Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report #2650 06/22/00

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE
 
      DAILY REPORT #2650
 
PERIOD COVERED:  0000Z (UTC) 06/21/00 – 0000Z (UTC) 06/22/00
 
Daily Status Report as of 174/0000Z
 
1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:
 
    1.1 Completed Three 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/MA1 8295 (Anomalously Blue Giants: Possible Precursurs to Subdwarf B Stars)
 
        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (MA1) was used to make observations of the galaxy NGC188-004.  Confirmation of the presence of hot companions would lend strong support to the theory that the anomalous giants are the binary precursors to the sdB class of stars.  The observations were completed as planned, and no problems were reported.
 
    1.3 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.
 
    1.4 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1/MA2 8422 (Imaging Sensitivity and PSF Library C8)
 
        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD, MA1 and MA2) was used to make Point Spread Function (PSF) observations using standard star NGC6681.  This program has several goals: {1} to improve the calibration of the on-axis imaging sensitivity of STIS; {2} to obtain high S/N observations stars {both saturated and unsaturated} for a PSF library, and {3} to obtain narrow-band observations of a star field to improve on the STIS PSF model.  The observations were completed as scheduled, and no anomalies were reported.
 
    1.5 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.
 
    1.6 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.
 
    1.7 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 8241 (A Snapshot Survey of Interstellar Absorption Lines)
 
        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to make high resolution Echelle spectrographic observations of the standard ultraviolet star HD142763 as part of a snapshot survey of interstellar absorption lines.  A wavelength calibration image was also taken.  The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted.
 
    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.  The observations completed with no 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.  The proposal completed nominally.
 
    1.10 Completed WF/PC-2 8654 (Confirmation of Black Hole, Planetary, and Binary Microlensing Events)
 
        The WF/PC-2 was used to take images of five MACHO Project microlensing events in order to confirm our microlensing models which indicate that these events were caused by black holes and stars with extra-solar planets.  The proposal completed nominally.
 
    1.11 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.
 
    1.12 Completed WF/PC-2 8655 (Geometric Distances of Globular Clusters {GO part})
 
        TheWF/PC-2 was used to establish a globular-cluster distance scale of unprecedented accuracy and reliability, with far- reaching impact on the distance and time scales of cosmology.  Our method is to compare internal dispersions of proper motion with ground-based determinations of the dispersion of radial velocities.  The prospect is a geometrically based distance scale with an accuracy of better than 2 ability to make such measurements, and we are progressing with the conversion of them to a distance for the cluster.  The observations completed with no reported problems.
 
    1.13 Completed STIS/CCD 8796 (POMS Test Proposal: STIS Non-Scripted Parallel Proposal Continuation IV)
 
        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used in the parallel mode to make some low galactic latitude archive observations.  The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted.
 
    1.14 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 8107 (What is the Nature of the Cold Medium in Cooling Flow Clusters?)
 
        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD/MA1) was used to observe X-ray spectra of cooling flow clusters of galaxies in an attempt to discover the presence of large columns of "cold” absorbing material.  The proposal completed with no reported problems.
 
    1.15 Completed WF/PC-2 8444 (WF/PC-2 CYCLE-8 Internal Monitor)
 
        The WF/PC-2 was used to make a bias, and an internal flat, observation as part of a Cycle-8 monitoring program to monitor the health of the cameras.  A variety of internal exposures are obtained in order to provide a monitor of the integrity of the CCD camera electronics in both bays {gain 7 and gain 15}, a test for quantum efficiency in the CCDs, and a monitor for possible buildup of contaminants on the CCD windows.  The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted.
 
2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:
 
    2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:
      Scheduled Acquisitions:  6
Successful:  6
 
  Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 10
Successful: 10
 
    2.2 FHST Updates:
Scheduled: 14
Successful: 12
 
        Per HSTAR 7695, the full maneuver updates scheduled for 173/100549Z and at 173/100834Z failed due to tracker 1.  The previous roll delay update was successful as was the subsequent guide star acquisition.
 
    2.3 Operations Notes:
 
        The SSR EDAC error counter was cleared once per ROP SR-1A.
 
3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:
 
        An RMGA calibration exercise will occur today at approximately 174/1538Z.
 
        Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.