Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report #2665 07/17/00
HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE
DAILY REPORT #2665
PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 07/14/00 – 0000Z (UTC) 07/17/00
Daily Status Report as of 199/0000Z
1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:
1.1 Completed Three Sets of 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 8631 (Bright Quasar Close Lensing Search II)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to expand the Cycle 8 second generation HST snapshot survey of bright quasars, optimized to find lenses with component image separations < 1". The observations completed nominally.
1.3 Completed Five Sets of STIS/CCD 8437 (Dark Monitor-Part 2 C8)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to monitor the darks. As documented in the previous report and HSTAR 7722, the acquisition for the first iteration of this proposal defaulted to fine lock backup on one FGS only, possibly affecting observations. Otherwise, the proposal completed nominally.
1.4 Completed WF/PC-2 8609 (Host Galaxy Luminosities of the Most Luminous QSOs)
The WF/PC-2 was used to determine the factors that decide whether a galaxy is host to a luminous QSO. Recent evidence indicates that host galaxy spheroid mass is a key factor: we want to test the relationship between host galaxy and QSO luminosity at the highest feasible QSO luminosities by measuring the luminosities and profiles of host galaxies for QSOs with -25.8 > M_V > -27.6. Current data in this area are conflicting. As documented in the previous report and HSTAR 7722, the acquisition for this proposal defaulted to fine lock backup on one FGS only, possibly affecting observations. Otherwise, the observations completed with no further reported anomalies.
1.5 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD 8870 (POMS Test Proposal: STIS Non-Scripted Parallel Proposal Continuation IV)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to make non-scripted, parallel observations as part of a POMS test proposal. As documented in the previous report and HSTAR 7722, the acquisition for the first iteration of this proposal defaulted to fine lock backup on one FGS only, possibly affecting observations. Otherwise, the observations completed with no further anomalous activity.
1.6 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. As documented in the previous report and HSTAR 7722, the acquisition for the first iteration of this proposal defaulted to fine lock backup on one FGS only, possibly affecting observations. Otherwise, the observations completed with no further anomalous activity.
1.7 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1/MA2 8484 (Physical Properties of H I AND H II Regions)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD, MA1 and MA2) was used to observe Interstellar absorption lines within the wavelength intervals 1170-1370A and 1630-1890A in the spectra of 10 early-type stars. The following objectives were achieved: {1} to measure the populations of the fine-structure levels of O I, C I and Si II within H I and H II regions, {2} to determine the ionization ratios Al I/Al III {the Al II line will probably be too saturated}, S I/S II/S III, and Si I/Si II/Si III, and {3} to measure the abundances of Mg, O, S, Ni and Si from unsaturated lines arising from their preferred ionization stages in H I regions. Objectives {1} and {2} should define local kinetic temperatures, densities of H atoms {both neutral and ionized}, and also the ratios of uv ionizing photons to electrons. As documented in 2.1 and HSTAR 7723 and 2.1, the acquisition for this proposal defaulted to fine lock backup on one FGS only, possibly affecting the observations. Otherwise, the proposal completed nominally.
1.8 Completed Eleven 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. As documented in 2.1 and HSTAR 7723 and 2.1, the acquisition for the first iteration of this proposal defaulted to fine lock backup on one FGS only, possibly affecting the observations. As further documented in 2.1 and HSTAR 7725 and 2.1, the acquisition for the second iteration of this proposal defaulted to fine lock backup on one FGS only, possibly affecting the observations. Then, as documented in 2.1 and HSTAR 7728 and 2.1, the acquisition for the seventh iteration of this proposal defaulted to fine lock backup on one FGS only, possibly affecting the observations. Otherwise, the proposal completed with no further reported problems.
1.9 Completed Two Sets of STIS/MA1/MA2 8426 (Cycle 8 MAMA Dark Measurements)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (MA1 and 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.
1.10 Completed WF/PC-2 8184 (The Origin of cD Envelopes)
The WF/PC-2 was used to observe cD galaxies which are known to known to be present in approximately 20 percent of all galaxy
clusters. Located at the dynamical centers of their host cluster or subcluster, these supergiant elliptical galaxies show extended, diffuse stellar envelopes which trace the gravitational potential of the surrounding cluster. The observations completed with no reported problems.
1.11 Completed WF/PC-2 8676 (Halo Microlens Source Systems and their Backgrounds and Reddening)
The WF/PC-2 was used to investigate the existence of dark objects in the Galactic halo suggested by the MACHO project while is about to release 5.7 years of LMC data revealing ~ 20 candidate microlensing events. The observer proposes to obtain medium-deep broadband images of eight of the new candidate source stars. The observations completed with no reported anomalies.
1.12 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.
1.13 Completed STIS/CCD 8842 (Pointed and Coronagraphic PSF Library C9)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to obtain high S/N observations of stars {both saturated and unsaturated} for a PSF library. This cycle’s observations will concentrate on deep PSFs for the F28X50LP of an A and F star, and for the WEDGEA1.0 and WEDGEA1.8 positions of a K star. As in 2.1 and HSTAR 7725 and 2.1, the acquisition for this proposal defaulted to fine lock backup on one FGS only, possibly affecting the observations. The observations completed with no other problems.
1.14 Completed Seven 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. As documented in 2.1 and HSTAR 7725 and 2.1, the acquisition for the first iteration of this proposal defaulted to fine lock backup on one FGS only, possibly affecting the observations. Otherwise, the observations were executed as scheduled, and no further anomalies were noted.
1.15 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.
1.16 Completed STIS/CCD 8422 (Imaging Sensitivity and PSF Library C8)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to make Point Spread Function (PSF) observations using standard star
BD-11D3759. 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.
1.17 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.
1.18 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD/MA1 7740 (Spin-Cycle Variations of the UV Emission Lines of Intermediate Polars)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to make observations of the variable star AO-PSC. The intermediate polars are a prime opportunity for observing the interaction of an accretion flow with a strong magnetic fields. A wavelength calibration image was also taken. The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted.
1.19 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 8434 (Slitless Spectroscopy/MAMA)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to calibrate the dispersion solution and the sensitivity as a function of the target-position in the MAMA first order and prism slitless
spectroscopy. The observations completed with no reported problems.
1.20 Completed WF/PC-2 8586 (Observations of Astrophysically Important Visual Binaries)
The WF/PC-2 was used to continue the Cycle 7-8 Long-Term project. The program consists of annual or biannual WFPC2 or FGS observations of three visual binary stars that will ultimately yield fundamental astrophysical results, once their orbits and masses are determined. Our targets are the following: {1} Procyon {P=41 yr}, for which our first WFPC2 images yielded an extremely accurate angular separation of the bright F star and its very faint white-dwarf
companion. There were no reported problems.
1.21 Completed WF/PC-2 8800 (Moving Observations of a Fixed Star Cluster)
The WF/PC-2 was used for a proposal that will slew HST across a star cluster while making exposures. The resulting trailed images will then be studied. The proposal completed with no reported problems.
1.22 Completed STIS/CCD 7912 (STIS Parallel Archive Proposal – Nearby Galaxies – Imaging and Spectroscopy)
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The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to make parallel observations of nearby galaxies. This survey will be useful to study the star formation histories, chemical evolution, and distances to these galaxies. These data will be placed immediately into the Hubble Data Archive. The observations were completed as scheduled, and no problems were reported.
1.23 Completed WF/PC-2 8715 (A Young Globular Cluster Surrounded by Numerous Smaller Clusters and a Giant Bubble in NGC 6946)
The WF/PC-2 was used to observations of NGC 6946 which is more than a factor of 3 closer than even the most nearby young merger galaxy, so observations of the young globular here could offer much more detailed information about the structure and environment of such an object. The young globular is located within a bubble-like structure with a radius of about 300 pc, in which dozens of other young clusters are seen on ground-based images. The proposal completed nominally.
1.24 Completed STIS/CCD 8607 (Completing the Local AGN Inventory: The AGN Content of Composite Nuclei)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to increase the knowledge of the local space density of AGNs which is of fundamental importance to a number of astrophysical problems. A significant fraction of nearby galaxies have nuclei whose spectra are intermediate between those of LINERs and nuclear starbursts. These “transition objects” may be composite systems that contain both a central AGN and circumnuclear star formation. We will test this hypothesis by obtaining spatially-resolved optical spectra of a well-defined sample of 15 nearby transition nuclei selected from the extensive ground-based survey of Ho, Filippenko, and Sargent. As documented in 2.1 and HSTAR 7728 and 2.1, the acquisition for this proposal defaulted to fine lock backup on one FGS only, possibly affecting the observations. Otherwise, the observations completed with no further reported problems.
1.25 Completed WF/PC-2 8701 (Multiplicity among Very-Low Mass Stars and Brown Dwarfs in Alpha Persei and the Pleiades)
The WF/PC-2 was used to observe open clusters which provide excellent hunting grounds for brown dwarf {BD} searches. The AlphaPer and Pleiades clusters are young, nearby and have low extinction. They are cosidered to be the best-suited places to study the Substellar Mass. A dozen of cool faint AlphaPer and Pleiades members have been confirmed as “bona-fide” BDs with the lithium test. By comparison with those, about 60 very good cluster BD candiates are currently known. The Pleiades SMF obtained using the most recent deep large CCD surveys indicates that BDs are quite numerous but do not make a significant contribution to the total cluster mass. The observations completed with no reported problems.
1.26 Completed WF/PC-2 8457 (UV Earth Flats)
The WF/PC-2 was used to obtain a series of Ultraviolet Earth flats. The observations were completed with no reported problems.
1.27 Completed STIS/CCD 8128 (Stalking FLIERs in Planetary Nebualae: a STIS Study)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to observe FLIERs, which are enigmatic pairs of small, low-ionization knots located on opposite sides of the central star of many PNe. Their symmetric locations, equal, opposite and supersonic Doppler shifts {Mach 3-5}, and highly enriched N/O ratios suggest that they are peculiar spitballs ejected recently from the stellar interior. The observations completed nominally.
1.28 WF/PC-2 8601 (A Snapshot Survey of Probable Nearby Galaxies)
The WF/PC-2 was used to continue the very successful snapshot survey in order to use the high spatial resolution of HST to determine whether selected galaxies are nearby on the basis of resolution into stars, and the magnitudes and colors of the brightest stars. There were no reported problems.
2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:
2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:
Scheduled Acquisitions: 22
Successful: 22
The acquisition at 196/111037Z defaulted to fine lock backup on FGS-2 when the scan step limit was exceeded on FGS-1. HSTAR 7723 was written. The proposals detailed in 1.7 and 1.8 may have been affected.
HSTAR 7725 documents the fact that the acquisition at 197/0444231Z defaulted to fine lock backup on FGS-2 when the scan step limit was exceeded on FGS-3. The proposals described in 1.13, 1.14 and 1.8 may have been affected.
Per HSTAR 7728, the acquisition at 198/060810Z defaulted to fine lock backup on FGS-1 only when the scan step limit was exceeded on FGS-2. Proposals detailed in 1.8 and 1.24 may have been affected. Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 20
Successful: 20
2.2 FHST Updates:
Scheduled: 73
Successful: 68
Per HSTAR 7724, the 2/3 full maneuver updates at 197/042717Z and at 197/043002Z failed due to tracker 2.
The 1/2 roll delay update at 197/070030Z failed due to tracker 2. HSTAR 7726 was written.
The 1/2 fill maneuver updates at 197/212409Z and at 197/212654Z both failed due to tracker 2. HSTAR 7727 was written.
2.3 Operations Notes:
Using ROP SR-1A, the SSR EDAC error counter was cleared eleven times.
The engineering status buffer limits were adjusted three times per ROP DF-18A.
3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:
Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.
