Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report #2651 06/23/00

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE
 
  DAILY REPORT #2651
 
PERIOD COVERED:  0000Z (UTC) 06/22/00 – 0000Z (UTC) 06/23/00
 
Daily Status Report as of 175/0000Z
 
1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:
 
    1.1 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.
 
    1.2 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.
 
    1.3 Completed STIS/MA2 8275 (Ultraviolet Snapshots of 3CR Radio Source Counterparts at Low Z)
 
        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (MA2) was used to make ultraviolet snapshot observations of the radio galaxy 3C353.0.  Radio galaxies are an important class of extragalactic objects, representing one of the most energetic astrophysical phenomena, while extraordinarily useful as probes of their environments and of the early Universe.  The observations were completed as scheduled, and no anomalies were reported.
 
    1.4 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.
 
    1.5 Completed STIS/CCD 8176 (Confirmation and Characterization of Brown Dwarfs and Giant Planets from NICMOS 7226/7227)
 
        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to make confirmation and characterization observations of object HD1029982B.  This is a continuation of NICMOS 7226/7227 using the STIS.  A systematic search for giant planet and brown dwarf companions to stars in the solar neighborhood was the cornerstone of the NICMOS IDT’s Environments of Nearby Stars {EONS} program.  The observations were completed as planned, and no anomalies were reported.
 
    1.6 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.
 
    1.7 Completed WF/PC-2 8346 (Cosmological Parameters from Type Ia Supernovae at High Redshift)
 
        The WF/PC-2 was used to directly measure the cosmological parameters, Omega, Lambda, and thus the curvature, Omega_k, using Type Ia supernovae {SNe Ia} as calibrated standard candles.  Observations of SNe Ia spanning a large redshift range are key to decoupling Omega and Lambda.  The observations completed nominally.
 
    1.8 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.
 
    1.9 Completed STIS/CCD 8226 (Discerning the Origins of Blue Stragglers: Masses and Rotation Rates)
 
        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to study the blue stragglers in globular cluster NGC-6752-BS.  Conventional wisdom holds that the masses of Blue Straggler Stars in globular clusters are significantly larger than the turnoff mass.  A wavelength calibration observation was also taken.  The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted.
 
    1.10 Completed Two Sets of 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.
 
    1.11 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 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.
 
    1.13 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 8165 (Pervasive Hot Gas Hidden in Galaxy Groups: A Substantial Baryon Reservoir?)
 
        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (MA1) was used to make observations of galactic cluster PG1116+215 to look for pervasive hot gas in the intracluster media.  Cosmological simulations predict that at z ~ 0, most groups of galaxies should be embedded in large filaments and sheets of shock heated gas at 10^5 — 10^6 ^degrees K.  A wavelength calibration image was also taken.  The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted.
 
    1.14 Completed 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
 
2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:
 
    2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:
      Scheduled Acquisitions: 8
Successful: 8
 
  Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 7
Successful: 7
 
    2.2 FHST Updates:
Scheduled: 15
Successful: 15
 
    2.3 Operations Notes:
 
        Using ROP SR-1A, the SSR EDAC error counter was cleared twice.
 
        The RMGA calibration exercise was completed at 174/1735Z.
 
        SSA transmitter #2 was turned on and off at 174/2232Z per ROP IC-2.
 
        The NSSC-1 status buffer was dumped and reset at 175/0550Z as directed by ROP NS-5.  Per HSTAR 7697, the CCS string "B" HSTPS did not collect the dump.
 
3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:
 
        Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.