Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report #2663 07/13/00
HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE
DAILY REPORT #2663
PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 07/12/00 – 0000Z (UTC) 07/13/00
Daily Status Report as of 195/0000Z
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 Three Sets of WF/PC-2 8826 (Cycle 9 Supplemental Darks pt 1)
The WF/PC-2 was used to perform a T dark calibration program that obtains three dark frames every day in order to provide data for monitoring and characterizing the evolution of hot pixels. There were no reported anomalies.
1.3 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.
1.4 Completed WF/PC-2 8597 (The Fueling of Active Nuclei: Why are Active Galaxies Active?)
The WF/PC-2 was used to investigate the accretion onto massive black holes which is believed to be the energy source for AGN. However, evidence for black holes in quiescent galaxies has also been reported. Why are these galaxies inactive? One possibility is that active galaxies are better at providing fuel to the nuclear region than quiescent
galaxies. Other possible fueling mechanisms such as “bars-within-bars” or nuclear spirals cannot be investigated from the ground because they are relatively small features in the ISM. The observations were completed as planned.
1.5 Completed STIS/CCD 8850 (Deep CCD/G750M Wavecals)
Abstract
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrogrph (CCD) was used to obtain deep wavecals that are needed for the long wavelength setting of G750M. It has been noticed that wavelength dispersion errors on the order of 1 pixel in the overlap regions of the long wavelength settings of G750M for GTO and GO Eta Carina long slit spectra. No deep post-launch wavecals exist for these wavelengths. The standard GO wavecals are not deep enough to accurately determine the dispersion relation. There were no reported problems.
1.6 Completed STIS/CCD 8667 (Nuclear Stellar Disks in Early Galaxies: Black Hole Masses and Disk/Bar/Bulge Evolution)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to image of an additional four E/SO galaxies to: {1} test whether the unusual M_bh/M_bulge ratio is typical of these nuclear disk galaxies and {2} search for additional ring/bar structures will help determine the source of the accreted material and the time sequence of the disk/bar/bulge/Black Hole fueling connection. The observations completed with no reported anomalies.
1.7 Completed Six 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 8687 (Elliptical Galaxies With Nuclear Disks of Stars: Black Hole Search and Stellar Populations)
The Space telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to observe galaxies NGC 3706 {E3} and NGC 4486A {E2} to search for supermassive black holes {BHs}. NGC 3706 contains a bright, edge-on nuclear disk of stars. Therefore we can measure the BH mass mbh as easily as in a galaxy with a gas disk but without uncertainty about whether the motions are affected by non-gravitational forces. NGC 4486A, like NGC 4486B, is a dwarf elliptical companion of NGC 4486 {M s87} with signs of an unusually massive BH. The observations completed and no anomalous activity occurred.
1.9 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 8157 (Molecular Hydrogen in the
Circumstellar Environments of T Tauri Stars)
The Space Telescope Imaging Telescope (CCD and MA1) was used to probe the gaseous environments of low mass pre-main sequence stars by studying the H_2 UV Lyman bands. Fluorescent H_2 Lyman band emission has been detected, pumped by H I Lyman Alpha and Si IV, in 8 classical T Tauri stars but not in 3 naked T Tauri stars. The observations will provide insights into the spatial distribution of gas near classical T Tauri stars. The proposal completed with no reported problems.
1.10 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.
1.11 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 8445 (WF/PC-2 Cycle 8 Earth Flats)
The WF/PC-2 was used to make Cycle 8 Earth flat calibration observations. This is to obtain sequences of earth streak flats to construct high quality flat fields for the WF/PC-2 filter set. The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted.
1.12 Completed WF/PC-2 8599 (A Census of Nuclear Star Clusters in Late-Type Spiral Galaxies)
The WF/PC-2 was used to conduct an I-band snapshot survey of a well-defined sample of nearby, face-on spiral galaxies of type Scd or later. The proposal completed nominally.
1.13 Completed 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.
1.14 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 8103 (A Global Picture of White Dwarfs in Cataclysmic Variables)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to make ultraviolet spectrographic observations of the white dwarf star that is located in the cataclysmic variable star system known as LL-AND. The observations were executed as scheduled, and no problems were reported.
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: 13
Successful: 13
2.3 Operations Notes:
SSR EDAC errors were cleared four times per ROP SR-1A.
SI C&DH error were reset at 194/1318Z as directed by ROP NS-5.
Gyro #6 was placed in the shadow mode at 194/2355Z.
3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:
Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.