Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report #2656 06/30/00
HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE
DAILY REPORT #2656
PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 06/29/00 – 0000Z (UTC) 06/30/00
Daily Status Report as of 182/0000Z
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/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.
1.3 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.
1.4 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 HD203532 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.
1.5 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.
1.6 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/MA2 8188 (Snapshot Spectroscopic Diagnostic Survey of the Symbiotic Stars)
The Space Telescope imaging Spectrograph (CCD, MA1 and MA2) was used to make ultraviolet observations of star S149 as part of a snapshot spectroscopic diagnostic survey of symbiotic stars. Using these data we will be able to establish meaningful statistical limits on the nature of hot component sources of ionization and fundamental wind parameters, which are vital steps toward understanding the accretion hydrodynamics and the evolutionary status of symbiotic systems. A wavelength calibration image was also taken. The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted.
1.8 Completed WF/PC-2 8200 (Globular Cluster Systems in Three Giant Coma Ellipticals)
The WF/PC-2 was used to make observations of the giant Coma elliptical galaxy NGC-4889 in order to study its globular clusters. What we know about the Coma ellipticals so far present serious challenges to virtually every one of the current formation scenarios for globular cluster systems. The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted.
1.9 Completed Four 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.
1.10 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.
1.11 Completed WF/PC-2 8174 (Internal Velocity Distribution in Globular Clusters, II)
The WF/PC-2 was used to determine the internal velocity distribution of the globular cluster NGC 6656 in its core. The proposal completed with no anomalous activity.
1.12 Completed Two Sets of STIS/MA2 8426 (Cycle 8 MAMA Dark Measurements)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (MA2) 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.
1.13 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.
1.14 Completed WF/PC-2 8249 (A Strong Lensing Survey of the Mass Distribution in X-ray Luminous Clusters)
The WF/PC-2 was used for a gravitational lensing survey of the central regions of 16 X-ray luminous clusters from a statistically complete sample. The observations completed with no problems.
1.15 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.
2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:
2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:
Scheduled Acquisitions: 7
Successful: 7
Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 9
Successful: 9
2.2 FHST Updates:
Scheduled: 22
Successful: 22
2.3 Operations Notes:
Using ROP SR-1A, the SSR EDAC error counter was cleared three times.
An SI C&DH error was reset at 181/1153Z per ROP NS-5.
3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:
Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.