Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report #2802 02/06/01
HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE
DAILY REPORT #2802
PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 02/05/01 – 0000Z (UTC) 02/06/01
Daily Status Report as of 037/0000Z
1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:
1.1 Completed Four Sets of WF/PC-2 8827 (Cycle 9 Supplemental Darks pt2/3)
The WF/PC-2 was used to obtain three dark frames every day to provide data for monitoring and characterizing the evolution of hot pixels. The proposal completed nominally.
1.2 Completed Two 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.
1.3 Completed FGS/1 8731 (A High Angular Resolution Survey of the Most Massive Stars in the SMC)
The Fine Guidance Sensor #1 was used to conduct high angular resolution observations of some of the SMC’s hottest and most luminous objects by conducting a comprehensive survey of nearly every spectral type in the upper portion of the HR diagram. Binary or multiple star systems will be detected down to an unprecedented level, more than one order of magnitude better than possible with WFPC2. The targets selected include a representative list of normal Main Sequence O-stars and their evolved descendents, namely supergiants, hypergiants, LBVs, and WRs, many of which have been previously observed by HST’s spectrometers for purposes of cosmological calibrations. The observations completed, and no problems were reported.
1.4 Completed Two 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.
1.5 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 Group. The proposal completed with no reported problems.
1.6 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.
1.7 Completed Five 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.
1.8 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.
1.9 Completed WF/PC-2 8600 (Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy Snapshot Survey III)
The WF/PC-2 was used to extend our V and I snapshot survey of nearby dwarf elliptical {dE} galaxies to include a sample of 30 bright dE with significant globular cluster {GC} populations. There were no reported problems.
1.10 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.
1.11 Completed WF/PC-2/STIS/CCD/MA1/MA2 8207 (The Ofpe/WN Stars In M33: Understanding Wolf-Rayet Star Formation In Different Environments)
Both WF/PC-2 and the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD, MA1 and MA2) were used to make observations of Wolf-Rayet stars in the galaxy M-33. WF/PC-2 imaging parallel to the primary spectroscopy in UBV and FUV filters will substantially extend our study of the hot massive star population and populous stellar clusters in this galaxy. A wavelength calibration image was also taken. The observations were completed as planned, and no anomalies were reported.
1.12 Completed Six Sets of STIS/CCD/MA1 8622 (The Interstellar Isotopic Ratio of Boron toward Omicron Persei and Nearby Sight Lines)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to determine the isotopic ratio 11B/10B for diffuse interstellar material along lines of sight to HD23180 that pass close to the star- forming region IC 348. The proposal completed nominally.
1.13 Completed Two Sets of STIS/MA2 8843 (Cycle 9 MAMA Dark Measurements)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (MA2) was used to perform the routine monitoring of the MAMA detector dark noise. The proposal completed nominally.
1.14 Completed STIS/CCD/MA2 8225 (Absorption and Obscuration in Radio-Loud Quasars)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to make observations of the radio-loud quasar MRC0135-24. The role of associated absorption systems and dust obscuration close to the central engines of AGN is not understood. A wavelength calibration image was also taken. The observations were completed as planned, and no anomalies were reported.
1.15 Completed WF/PC-2 8632 (A UV Atlas of Nearby Galaxies)
The WF/PC-2 was used to perform a snapshot survey of local galaxies at UV wavelengths with the F300W filter. The aim of the project is to build a reference UV Atlas of normal galaxies, whose optical images are well known, with the highest possible degree of information, covering all the morphological types and luminosity classes. The proposal completed normally.
1.16 Completed WF/PC-2/STIS/CCD 8679 (Constraining the Age of the Oldest Stars from the White Dwarf Cooling Sequence in M4)
The WF/PC-2 and the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) were used to search for the oldest and hence coolest white dwarfs {WDs} in M4, the nearest Galactic globular cluster to the Sun. New models for cooling hydrogen white dwarfs predict that their colors should become bluer, rather than redder, with increasing age. The goal is to test these models and at the same time constrain the age of M4. The proposal completed with no problems.
2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:
2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:
Scheduled Acquisitions: 5
Successful: 5
Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 10
Successful: 10
2.2 FHST Updates:
Scheduled: 11
Successful: 11
2.3 Operations Notes:
Using ROP SR-1A, the SSR EDAC error counter was cleared three times.
The High/Low Gyro Bias Update triplets were uplinked at 036/1731Z per an operations request.
The engineering status buffer was dumped and reset at 036/1902Z as directed by ROP DF-18A.
The ephemeris table was uplinked at 037/0128Z, using ROP DF-07A.
3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:
Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.
