Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report #2692 08/23/00
HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE
DAILY REPORT #2692
PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 08/22/00 – 0000Z (UTC) 08/23/00
Daily Status Report as of 236/0000Z
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 STIS/CCD 8437 (Dark Monitor-Part 2 C8)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to monitor the darks. The proposal completed nominally.
1.3 Completed WF/PC-2 8634 (Atmospheric Variability on Uranus and Neptune)
The WF/PC-2 was used to obtain snapshot observations of Uranus and Neptune to monitor changes in their atmospheres on time scales of months to years. Uranus is rapidly approaching equinox in 2007, with another 4 degrees of latitude in the northern hemisphere becoming visible every year. Recent HST images during this unique epoch have revealed: {i} strongly wavelength-dependent latitudinal structure, {ii} the presence of numerous visible-wavelength cloud features in the northern hemisphere, and, {iii} in the near-IR, discrete features northward of 25degrees N that have the highest contrast ever seen for a Uranian cloud. Long-term ground- based observations show seasonal brightness changes whose origins are not well understood. Recent IR images of Neptune obtained using adaptive optics on the Keck Telescope indicate that a new "Bright Companion" type of feature has recently appeared in the southern hemisphere. Snapshot observations of these two dynamic planets can supply context in which to discern the nature of long-term changes in their latitudinal atmospheric bands and to track the appearance, movement, and disappearance of discrete albedo features. There were no reported problems.
1.4 Completed WF/PC-2 8716 (Search For Sub-Stellar Companions To Young Brown Dwarfs In The Chamaeleon I Dark Cloud)
The WF/PC-2 was used to observe twelve very low-mass dwarfs in the Chamaeleon I dark cloud, a site of on-going star formation, all showing H-alpha emission with spectral types from M6 to M8. We propose to observe these young, very low-mass dwarfs in order to search for close, faint companions. There were no reported problems.
1.5 Completed Two Sets of 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 used to conduct CTE measurements using the "sparse field test", along both the serial and parallel axes. This program needs special commanding to provide {a} off-center MSM positionings of some slits, and {b} the ability to read out with any amplifier {A, B, C, or D}. All exposures are internals. The observations were completed as planned, and no anomalies were reported.
1.6 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.
1.7 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.
1.8 Completed Two 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.
1.9 Completed STIS/CCD 8480 9Long Slit Spectroscopy Of The Extended Emission-Line Regions In Seyfert 2 Galaxies)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to perform long-slit low-dispersion spectra of the Seyfert 2 galaxy Mrk 3 in order to obtain the wide range of spatially-resolved UV and visible emission lines needed to determine density gradients in the narrow- line region {NLR}, to determine the intrinsic reddening in the NLR, to study the kinematics of the NLR, and to verify the existence of a hidden broad line region {BLR} and luminous continuum source. The observations completed with no reported anomalies.
1.10 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.
1.11 Completed WF/PC-2 8544 (POMS Test Proposal: WFII Backup Parallel Archive Proposal II)
The WF/PC-2 was used to execute a POMS test proposal that was designed to simulate scientific plans. No problems were encountered.
1.12 Completed WF/PC-2 8233 (UV Imaging of Optical Jets: A New Window on the Physics of Jets)
The WF/PC-2 was used to observe extragalactic radio jets which are highly collimated beams of high energy particles and magnetic fields issuing forth at relativistic speeds from sub-parsec scale regions, extending hundreds of kpc through interstellar and intergalactic space. They are unique in their scope, power, and size. The jets affect their host galaxies and environments, through kinetic energy output and through deposition of cosmic rays and magnetic fields into interstellar and intergalactic space. Despite years of study, fundamental jet parameters such as the magnetic field strength, particle density, jet configuration, bulk Lorentz factor, and the nature of particle acceleration in the flow remain unknown. The observations completed with no anomalous activity.
1.13 Completed WF/PC-2 8816 (Cycle 9 UV Earthflats)
The WF/PC-2 was used to obtain sequences of earth streak flats to improve the quality of pipeline flat fields for the WFPC2 UV filter set and in order to monitor flat field stability. There were no reported problems.
1.14 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.
2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:
2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:
Scheduled Acquisitions: 8
Successful: 8
Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 9
Successful: 9
2.2 FHST Updates:
Scheduled: 19
Successful: 19
2.3 Operations Notes:
The flight operations team is conduction operations during day and swing shift from the Science Institute through day 237.
Using SR-1A, the SSR EDAC error counter was cleared once.
SI C&DH errors were reset at 235/2027Z per ROP NS-5.
3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:
Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.
