Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report #2743 11/06/00
HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE
DAILY REPORT #2743
PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 11/03/00 – 0000Z (UTC) 11/06/00
Daily Status Report as of 311/0000Z
1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:
1.1 Completed Five 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 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.
1.3 Completed STIS/CCD/MA2 8770 (The Nucleosynthesis of Boron – Benchmarks for the Galactic Disk)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA2) was used to determine boron (B) abundance. In spite of several HST cycles of B abundance determinations, we do not know the true, ambient, present-day abundance of B. Only two stars {with undepleted Li and Be} have been observed to derive the Population I true B abundance. Past cycles have focused on {1} halo stars with low metallicity and {2} solar-type stars with Li and/or Be deficiencies. In this proposal, the stellar abundances of B will be determined, measured from the B I 2497 Angstrom line from STIS echelle spectra, of main sequence F-G stars that have retained their full initial abundances of boron. Our target stars are those for which ground-based observations show that beryllium is undepleted. These new abundances will map evolution of the B abundance in the Galactic disk in the metallicity range from one-third solar up to solar. Then the B, and previously determined Li and Be abundances, will be used to improve understanding of the nucleosynthesis of B. There were no reported anomalies.
1.4 Completed STIS/CCD 8664 (Structural Measurement of Globular Clusters in M31 and NGC 5128: Stalking the Fundamental Plane)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to observe in the snapshot mode to image a wide selection of individual globular clusters in two other large galaxies {M31 and NGC 5128} for measurement of their structural parameters {r_c, c, central surface brightness}. We will use these to compute their binding energies and define the FP in these two galaxies. Comparison with the Milky Way will then give us powerful new information on just how “universal” the cluster formation process was in the early protogalaxies. The observations completed with no reported problems.
1.5 Completed Five 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.
1.6 Completed FGS 8775 (Astrometry of the Extrasolar Planet of GL876)
The Fine Guidance Sensors were used to continue the astrometric observations of GL876 with HST/FGS in Position Mode to confirm the radial velocity detection of an extra-solar planet around the M4 dwarf star. The observations completed with no reported problems.
1.7 Completed Seven Sets of STIS/CCD 8562 (Probing the Large Scale Structure: Cosmic Shear Observations)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to probe the distortion of light bundles from distant galaxies, looking at the statistical properties of the intervening inhomogeneous {dark} matter distribution. The proposal completed nominally.
1.8 Completed Three Sets of STIS/MA1/MA2 8843 (Cycle 9 MAMA Dark Measurements)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (MA1 and MA2) was used to perform the routine monitoring of the MAMA detector dark noise. The proposal completed nominally.
1.9 Completed STIS/CCD 8872 (Spectroscopy of a New Hot spot in SN 1987A)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to take images and diagnostic spectra in the 2900–10250 A range of
rapidly-evolving hot spots and other shock features in the equatorial ring surrounding SN 1987A. A combination of aperture positions through the low and high resolution gratings will provide resolved data on all known and any new hot spots in all optical emission lines. There were no reported problems.
1.10 Completed Three Sets of STIS/CCD/MA1 8691 (Calibrating the Cosmic Meter Stick: The Distance to the LMC Using Eclipsing Binaries)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to measure the LMC distance which is crucial for the calibration of the Cosmic Distance Scale. The observations completed with no reported problems.
1.11 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1/MA2 8422 (Imaging Sensitivity and PSF Library C8)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD, MA1 and MA2) was used to make Point Spread Function (PSF) observations using standard star HS2027+065. 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.
1.12 Complete STIS/CCD/MA1/MA2 8300 (Lagrange Testing of the Falling Evaporating Bodies Hypothesis on the Herbig star HD100546)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD, MA1 and MA2) was used to observe several Herbig stars that exhibit spectroscopic variable features similar to those of the older, Main Sequence star, Beta Pictoris, and by analogy attributed to evaporation of cometary-like bodies falling on to the star. The presence of such around Herbig stars is an important and controversial issue regarding the evolutionary timescales of planetary systems formation. There were no reported anomalies.
1.13 Completed STIS/CCD/MA2 8681 (Snapshot Survey of Variability of Narrow and Broad Associated Absorption Lines in Quasars)
The Space telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA2) was used to investigate the variability in the strength of absorption lines in quasar spectra which is definitive proof that we are observing material that is physically associated with the quasars. This proposal will conduct a STIS snapshot survey to provide second epoch observations of 37 quasars with narrow associated or broad absorption lines {NALs and BALs}, previously observed with the FOS. At high redshift several intrinsic NALs and about two thirds of BALs are known to vary, often in accord with continuum variability. The amplitudes increase and the timescales decrease with decreasing quasar luminosity. The proposal completed nominally.
1.14 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 8473 (Key Project: The Nuclear Region Of NGC 4151 Observations)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to observe the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 4151. This galaxy will be studied in several ways. 1} low-resolution spectra over the entire UV and visible range will be obtained through a slit at several different orientations to model the physical conditions in the emission-line regions; 2} slitless and long-slit spectra of strong emission lines at moderate resolution and narrow-band WFPC2 images will be used to map the dynamics of the regions; 3} echelle spectra over the entire UV bandpass will be used to study the intrinsic absorption in the nucleus; and 4} parallel imaging will be performed of the outer galaxy and other galaxies or QSOs. There were no reported problems.
1.15 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD 8663 (Survey of SMC Planetary Nebulae: Nebular and Stellar Evolution in a Low- Metallicity Environment)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to survey of SMC planetary nebulae {PNe} in order to study the co-evolution of the nebulae and their central stars, in an environment that is chemically very metal poor. We will obtain STIS imaging and medium-resolution slitless spectroscopy that will yield line fluxes and nebular morphologies in important emission lines, plus magnitudes of the central stars. From these data we will gather a harvest of information: the nebular size, morphology, ionization structure, density, and mass; and the central star temperature, luminosity, and mass. The proposal completed with no reported anomalies. *********************************************************
The following scheduled WF/PC-2 observations did not execute due to the WF/PC-2 safing:
Three Sets of WF/PC-2 8822 (Decontaminations and Associated Observations Pt. 1/4)
Six Sets of WF/PC-2 8826 (Cycle 9 Supplemental Darks pt 1)
Six Sets of WF/PC-2 8805 (POMS Test Proposal: WFII Parallel Archive Proposal Continuation)
Five Sets of WF/PC-2 8059 (POMS Test Proposal: Targeted Parallel Archive Proposal)
WF/PC-2 7407 (Continuation of Temporal Monitoring of the Crab Synchrotron Nebula)
WF/PC-2 7374 (Probing Low Density Cluster Environments at Moderate-to-High Redshifts)
WF/PC-2 8583 (Imaging Snapshots of Asteroids)
WF/PC-2 8269 (The Morphological Evolution of Field Galaxies)
WF/PC-2 8326 (Colliding Stellar Winds and Proto-Planetary Dynamics) WF/PC-2 8669 (Merger-Driven Evolution Of Galactic Nuclei: Observations Of The Toomre Sequence)
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The following joint observations only partially executed due to the WF/PC-2 safing:
Completed WF/PC-2/STIS/CCD 8573 (Newborn Planets and Brown Dwarf Companions in IC 348)
The WF/PC-2 and the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) were used to search for young giant planets and brown dwarfs around ~100 low-mass stars and brown dwarfs in the nearby cluster IC 348. The observations completed with no reported problems.
Completed WF/PC-2/STIS/CCD 8624 (Imaging and Spectroscopy of Dusty Circumstellar Disks)
The WF/PC-2 and the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) were used to further understanding of the properties and evolution of dusty disks in the circumstellar environments of young stars which is a key element in furthering our concepts of the formation mechanisms of extra-solar planetary systems. The proposal completed with no reported problems.
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2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:
2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:
Scheduled Acquisitions: 25
Successful: 25
HSTAR 7948 describes multiple losses of lock occurring at 308/1539Z. This was at the beginning of a one-hour WF/PC-2 proposal (7407) that did not execute anyway due to the WF/PC-2 safing event.
Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 20
Successful: 20
2.2 FHST Updates:
Scheduled: 57
Successful: 57
2.3 Operations Notes:
WF/PC-2 remains in safe. Recovery is not planned until later this week.
The SSR EDAC error counter was cleared ten times, per ROP SR-1A.
The NSSC-1 status buffer was dumped four times, using ROP NS-3.
As directed by ROP NS-5, SI C&DH errors were reset four times.
The engineering status buffer limits were reset at 308/2035Z, using ROP DF-18A.
The STIS MCE-2 reset at 309/030850Z while the low voltage was on and while in an SAA interval. Per ROP NS-12, the STIS flight software error counter was cleared at 309/0321Z. MAMA-2 was recovered via normal SMS commanding at 309/0532Z.
ESTR-2 was reconditioned at 311/0241Z, per ROP RD-7A.
3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:
Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.
