Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report #2653 06/27/00
HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE
DAILY REPORT #2653
PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 06/26/00 – 0000Z (UTC) 06/27/00
Daily Status Report as of 179/0000Z
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/CCD/MA2 8569 (A New Survey for Low-Redshift Damped Lyman-Alpha Lines in QSO MgII Systems)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA2) was used to support studies which have shown that most of the observable neutral gas mass in the Universe resides in QSO damped LyAlpha {DLA} systems. However, at low redshift , DLA can only be found by searching in the UV with HST. By boot-strapping from the MgII statistics, we will be able to further improve the determination of the low- redshift statistical properties of DLA {their incidence and cosmological mass density} and open up new opportunities for studies at low redshift. The observations completed nominally.
1.3 Completed WF/PC-2 8811 (Cycle 9 Standard Darks)
The WF/PC-2 was used to obtain dark frames every week in order to provide data for the ongoing calibration of the CCD dark current rate, and to monitor and characterize the evolution of hot pixels. Over an extended period these data will also provide a monitor of radiation damage to the CCDs. The proposal completed with no reported problems.
1.4 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.
1.5 Completed STIS/MA1 8650 (The Interplanetary Medium Hydrogen Velocity Distribution)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (MA1) was used to observe the neutral atoms from the interstellar medium {ISM} flow into the solar system which produce a diffuse emission at 1216 Angstrom by resonant scattering of solar H Ly-alpha emission. This wind contains the velocity distribution of the local ISM, plus modifications by solar gravity, radiation pressure, and ionization near the Sun, and the Ly-alpha emission line profile reveals these velocity signatures. The observations completed nominally, with no reported problems.
1.6 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.
1.7 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.
1.8 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.
1.9 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 8287 (A Search For Transparent Lines of Sight With Intergalactic He-II Absorption Towards 26 Bright z > 2.9 Quasars)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to make He-II absorption line observations of quasar HS1011+431. The aim is to identify more suitable bright objects for detailed studies of intergalactic He-II absorption at a redshift of Z <2.9 and >3.2 . A wavelength calibration observation was also taken. The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted.
1.10 Completed WF/PC-2 8812 (Cycle 9 Internal Monitor)
The WF/PC-2 was used to obtain routine internal monitors for WFPC2 in order 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. There were no reported problems.
1.11 Completed WF/PC-2 8717 (Observations of Stellar Systems in Seyfert’s Sextet)
The WF/PC-2 was used to obtain imaging in the UBVI filters of the compact group of galaxies known as Seyfert’s Sextet, near enough that super star clusters are detectable and luminosity profiles can be constructed for possible dwarf galaxy members, yet compact enough that the Sextet can be imaged in one pointing. The observations completed with no reported problems.
1.12 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.
1.13 Completed Three 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.
1.14 Completed STIS/CCD/MA2 8111 (CS 22892–052: A Rosetta Star for the Age and Early History of the Galaxy)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD/MA2) was used to make observations of the "Rosetta" star CS 22892-052. These observations should provide significant new information about the early history of the galaxy, specifically the nature of the earliest generations of stars and the types of nucleosynthetic processes that occurred in those stars. The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted.
2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:
2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:
Scheduled Acquisitions: 5
Successful: 5
Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 9
Successful: 9
2.2 FHST Updates:
Scheduled: 16
Successful: 16
2.3 Operations Notes:
The SSR EDAC error counter was cleared once per ROP SR1A.
At 178/1250Z, the engineering status buffer was cleared. ROP DF-18A was used.
SSA transmitter #1 was turned on and off at 178/1444Z and at 178/1809Z, using ROP IC-2.
3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:
New NICMOS flight software will be installed and activated today. The process begins at approximately 179/1310Z.
Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.
