Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report #2691 08/22/00
HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE
DAILY REPORT #2691
PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 08/21/00 – 0000Z (UTC) 08/22/00
Daily Status Report as of 235/0000Z
1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:
1.1 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1/MA2 8875 (Coordinated HST and FUSE Observations of the IGM in the QSO HE2347-4342)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD, MA1 and MA2) was used to observe the neutral hydrogen absorption lines and the ionized helium absorption visible in the spectra of high-redshift QSOs that are a unique probe of structure in the universe at epochs intermediate between the earliest density fluctuations seen in the cosmic background radiation and the visible distribution of galaxies today. These observations are coordinated with Far-Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer {FUSE} observations of the line of sight to the QSO HE2347-4342 to investigate the fine-scale structure of the He II absorption from z=2.0–2.88. There were no reported problems.
1.2 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.
1.3 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.
1.4 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.
1.5 Completed Three Sets of 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.
1.6 Completed WF/PC-2 8598 (Snapshot Survey of Extended OIIl Lambda 5007Angstrom Emission in Seyfert Galaxies)
The WF/PC-2 was used for a snapshot survey of narrow band OIII Lambda 5007Angstrom images for a well defined sample of 88 Seyfert galaxies {29 Seyfert 1s and 59 Seyfert 2s}, 18 of which already have data in the archive, selected from a mostly isotropic property, the 60Mum flux. These data will be used: 1} to determine the origin of the misalignment between the accretion disk axis and the host galaxy plane axis, which can be due to mergers with other galaxies, or by the self induced radiation warping; 2} to compare the size and shape of the Narrow Line Regions (NLR) of Seyfert 1s and Seyfert 2s, and to study the frequency of conically shaped NLR in Seyfert galaxies, which are usually unresolved from ground-based observations; and 3} estimate the importance of shocks to the ionization of the NLR. The observations completed with no reported problems.
1.7 Completed Five 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 described in 2.1 and HSTAR 7809, acquisition and re-acquisition failures affected the final two iterations of this proposal and the take data flag remained down. Otherwise, the observations completed with no anomalous activity.
1.8 Completed WF/PC-2 8709 (UV Light from Old Stellar Populations: A Census of UV Bright Stars in `Blue Tail’ Globular Clusters)
The WF/PC-2 was used to make observations of UV-bright stars in Galactic Globular Clusters {GGCs}. These will complement data obtained during Cycles 5 and 6. The goals are multifold: {a} to observe the morphology in the faint blue tails {BTs} of GGC horizontal branches {HBs}; {b} to explore the relationship between the HB mass distribution in BT clusters to the clusters’ structural and dynamical properties; {c} to gain further samples of Blue Straggler Stars and the long-sought Cataclysmic Variables in GGC cores; and {d} to obtain relatively large samples of post main sequence stars. The observations completed with no reported problems.
1.9 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.
1.10 Completed 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.
1.11 Completed WF/PC-2 8874 (Heritage Observations of the Horsehead Nebula)
The WF/PC-2 was to be used to observe the Horsehead Nebula {Barnard 33} as part of the Hubble Heritage Project. As described in 2.1 and HSTAR 7809, acquisition and re-acquisition failures affected this proposal and the take data flag remained down.
1.12 Completed WF/PC-2/STIS/CCD 8414 (STIS Sparse Field CTE test {Cycle 8))
Both the WF/PC-2 and the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) were to be used to conduct CTE measurements using the "sparse field test", along both the serial and parallel axes. As described in 2.1 and HSTAR 7809, acquisition and re-acquisition failures affected this proposal and the take data flag remained down.
1.13 Completed Six Sets of 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. As described in 2.1 and HSTAR 7809, acquisition and re-acquisition failures affected the first three iterations of this proposal and the take data flag remained down. Otherwise, the proposal completed with no reported problems.
1.14 Completed Two Sets of STIS/MA2 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. As described in 2.1 and HSTAR 7809, acquisition and re-acquisition failures affected the first iteration of this proposal and the take data flag remained down. Otherwise, the observations were completed as planned, and no problems were reported.
1.15 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 8343 (Structure And Evolution Of The Globular Cluster Low Mass X-Ray Binary AC211 In M15)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to observe the UV spectra of AC211, the optical counterpart of the bright X-ray binary X2127+119 in the core of M15 that have revealed strong HeII Lambda1648 and CIV Lambda1550 emission together with many broad absorption lines including LyAlpha. The proposal completed with no reported problems.
1.16 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.
2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:
2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:
Scheduled Acquisitions: 9
Successful: 8
Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 9
Successful: 7
As documented in HSTAR 7809, the acquisition schedule for 234/133105Z failed when the search radius limit was exceeded. An FHST map taken at 234/1335Z showed errors of -4.462, 2.2252, and 17.453. The two subsequent re-acquisitions also failed. Proposals described in 1.7, 1.11, 1.12, 1.13, and 1.14 were affected.
2.2 FHST Updates:
Scheduled: 21
Successful: 20
The update at 234/190244Z failed during a ZOE The subsequent acquisition was successful, however.
2.3 Operations Notes:
The flight operations team is conduction operations from the Science Institute starting today and continuing through day 237.
The SSR EDAC error counter was cleared three times, per ROP SR-1A.
Using ROP DF-18A, the engineering status buffer limits were updated three times.
The ephemeris load was uplinked to the HST at 235/0258Z as directed by ROP DF-07B.
3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:
Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.
