Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report #2697 08/30/00
HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE
DAILY REPORT #2697
PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 08/29/00 – 0000Z (UTC) 08/30/00
Daily Status Report as of 243/0000Z
1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:
1.1 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.
1.2 Completed Three 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. The proposal completed with no reported problems.
1.3 Completed Three 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.
1.4 Completed Three Sets of 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.
1.5 Completed Two Sets of 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.
1.6 Completed Three 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.
1.7 Completed Four Sets of STIS/CCD 8837 (CCD Dark Monitor-Part 1)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to monitor the darks. The proposal completed with no reported problems.
1.8 Completed WF/PC-2 8338 (The Evolution of the Host Galaxies of Powerful Radio Sources)
The WF/PC-2 was used to make observations of the host galaxy of the powerful radio source known as MRC2340-21. A combined data set of radio galaxies and quasars will allow powerful tests of the relationship between radio galaxies and quasars and the evolution of the host galaxies of powerful radio sources over a wide range of look-back times. The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted.
1.9 Completed STIS/CCD 8838 (Bias Monitor – Part 1)
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 nominally.
1.10 Completed 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. The observations completed with no anomalous activity.
1.11 Completed WF/PC-2 8778 (Proper Motion of the Sagittarius Dwarf Galaxy-Cycle 9)
The WF/PC-2 was used to determine the proper motion of the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy {Sgr}. Three fields, previously imaged will be imaged again in cycle 7 and late in cycle 9. This will yield a baseline of ~ 3-4 years from which the proper motion of Sgr will be measured to an accuracy of ~ 35 km/s. The proposal completed with no reported problems.
1.12 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD/MA1 8305 (Two Post-Common-Envelope Binaries in the Hyades Cluster)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to observe V471 Tau and HZ 9, two detached binaries that are members of the Hyades cluster and consist of hot white dwarfs with main-sequence K-M companions. They have emerged from common- envelope interactions which drastically reduced their initially wide separations. For V471 Tau used STIS to confirm and further explore the host of fascinating phenomena that we have found using GHRS in a very limited spectral range near
Lyman-Alpha. We also used STIS to obtain the first high-resolution UV spectra of HZ 9, to see to what extent the above phenomena occur in a non- magnetic system which is otherwise remarkably similar to V471 Tau, and to determine accurate component masses. The observations completed with no reported problems.
1.13 Completed Four 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.
1.14 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1/MA2 8206 (The Structure of the Accretion Flow on Pre-Main-Sequence Stars)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD, MA1 and MA2) was used to test an essential prediction of the magnetospheric accretion model for T Tauri stars. Echelle spectra were be used to search for the relatively narrow high-temperature emission lines that must result from the magnetospheric accretion shock, but are not expected in the previous, alternative boundary layer model. The observations were completed with no reported problems.
1.15 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. The proposal completed nominally.
1.16 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.
1.17 Completed WF/PC-2 7407 (Continuation of Temporal Monitoring of the Crab Synchrotron Nebula)
The WF/PC-2 was used to observe the synchrotron nebula surrounding the Crab pulsar that has been the subject of intensive study for decades. It is generally accepted that the structure and activity in this region are due to wave phenomena near the termination shock of the pulsar wind, observations of which hold unique promise of leading to more complete models of the pulsar and its magnetosphere. Unfortunately, this promise has not been fulfilled, largely because of the low spatial resolution and uneven temporal coverage of existing studies. Recent WF/PC-2 observations of the Crab synchrotron nebula offer new hope in this quest. These data, which reach the natural size scale defined by the Larmor radius of energetic electrons, resolve the majority of the the known features in the Crab. For the first time it is possible to reliably establish the physical conditions {e.g., emissivities, equipartition fields, and pressures} of features associated with the wind and its termination shock. The observation completed with as planned.
1.18 Completed Two 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.
2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:
2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:
Scheduled Acquisitions: 13
Successful: 13
Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 3
Successful: 3
2.2 FHST Updates:
Scheduled: 31
Successful: 31
2.3 Operations Notes:
The SSR EDAC error counter was cleared twice per ROP SR-1A.
As directed by an operations note, the SSA forward power (SSAFPWR) was transitioned from normal to high power mode three times.
The STIS MCE-2 reset at 243/000633Z. The STIS flight software error counter was reset at 243/0055Z per ROP NS-12. MAMA-2 will be recovered via normal SMS commanding at the time of the next high power on event.
Using ROP DF-18A, an engineering status buffer limit (SESBSLD) was adjusted at 243/0920Z.
3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:
Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.
