Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report #2811 19 Feb 2001

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

DAILY REPORT #2811

PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 02/16/01 – 0000Z (UTC) 02/19/01

Daily Status Report as of 050/0000Z

1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:

1.1 Completed Seven Sets of STIS/CCD 8837 (CCD Dark Monitor-Part 1)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to monitor
the darks. As described in 2.1 and HSTAR 8081, the acquisition for the
sixth iteration of this proposal failed, the take data flag remained down,
and all observations in this iteration were lost. Otherwise, the proposal
completed with no further reported problems.

1.2 Completed Three Sets of STIS/CCD 8605 (Stellar-Dynamical
Measurements of the Black Hole Masses of Reverberation-Mapped AGN)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to measure
the stellar dynamics in the type 1 Seyfert nucleus in NGC3227. There were
no reported problems.

1.3 Completed Sixteen 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.

1.4 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 8883 (POMS Test Proposal: WFII Backup
Parallel Archive Proposal II)

The WF/PC-2 was used to complete a POMS test proposal designed to
simulate scientific plans. There were no reported problems.

1.5 Completed Two 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.

1.6 Completed Seven Sets of WF/PC-2 8815 (Cycle 9 Earth Flats)

The WF/PC-2 was used to monitor flatfield stability. This proposal
obtains sequences of Earth streak flats to construct high quality flat
fields for the WF/PC-2 filter set. These flat fields will allow mapping of
the OTA illumination pattern and will be used in conjunction with previous
internal and external flats to generate new pipeline superflats. The
proposal completed nominally.

1.7 Completed Two Sets of 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.

1.8 Completed Thirteen 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. As described in 2.1 and HSTAR 8081, the acquisition for the
twelfth iteration of this proposal failed, the take data flag remained
down, and all observations in this iteration were lost. Otherwise, the
proposal completed nominally.

1.9 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 8682 (A Snapshot Study of
0bservational Cosmology)

The WF/PC-2 was used to examine the observational constraints on
the cosmic star formation history that is currently among the most active
fields in observational cosmology. The most widely used tracer of the
co-moving volume-averaged star formation rate {SFR} is the UV luminosity
density, which early results found to peak at z~1- 2. The apparent
identification of the primary epoch of metal production and star formation
in the Universe led to intense theoretical and observational
interest. Nevertheless, and remarkably for such a fundamental observation,
little is known about the history of star formation in the Universe beyond
its global average. There were no reported anomalies.

1.10 Completed Two 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 o Persei, 40 Persei, Zeta Persei, and X Persei that
pass close to the star- forming region IC 348. The proposal completed
nominally.

1.11 Completed Six 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.

1.12 Completed STIS/CCD 8846 (Imaging Flats C9)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to
investigate flat-field stability over a monthly period. The proposal
completed nominally.

1.13 Completed Three Sets of FGS/1 8777 (Calibrating Stellar Models
with the Pleiades: Resolving the Distance Discrepancy-Cycle 9)

FGS-1 was used to measure an accurate distance to the Pleiades and
to resolve the problem raised by the Hipparcos results for this
cluster. The Hipparcos distance, taken at face value, indicates that
solar-composition ZAMS stars are 30% fainter than previously believed. The
resolution to the Hipparcos distance problem is vital for understanding all
the parallaxes that have come from that mission and hence this issue is
fundamental to the cosmic distance scale. In this first phase we observed
several spectroscopic binary systems with 2 to 3 year orbital periods to
assertain the prospects for deriving visual orbits and hence orbital
parallaxes for these cluster members. The proposal completed with no
reported problems.

1.14 Completed STIS/CCD 8884 (POMS Test Proposal: STIS Non-Scripted
Parallel Proposal Continuation)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to take
parallel images of random areas of the sky. The proposal completed nominally.

1.15 Completed Two 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.

1.16 Completed WF/PC-2 8813 (Cycle 9 Astrometric Monitor)

The WF/PC-2 was used to verify the relative positions of WF/PC-2
chips with respect to one another. The proposal completed nominally.

1.17 Completed STIS/CCD 8236 (Black Holes and Gas Disks in a Complete
Sample of Radio-Loud Ellipticals – II: Kinematics)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to make
observations of the radio-loud elliptical galaxy UGC-7115-CO. From these
observations we will measure the black hole masses, determine the nature,
kinematics, and structure of the central gas disks and obtain a modeled
upper limit to their mass accretion rates. A wavelength calibration image
was also taken. The observations were completed as planned, and no
problems were reported

1.18 Completed STIS/CCD 8228 (The Black Hole Versus Bulge Mass
Relationship in Spiral Galaxies)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to make
observations of the galaxy NGC-3686 in order to study the black hole versus
bulge mass relationship in spiral galaxies. A wavelength calibration image
was also taken. The observations were executed as scheduled, and no
anomalies were noted.

1.19 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.

1.20 Completed 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.

1.21 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 8662 (A Snapshot Survey of the Hot
Interstellar Medium)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD And MA1) was used to
obtain snapshot STIS echelle observations of key tracers of hot
interstellar gas {C IV, N IV, and Si IV} for selected FUSE Team O VI survey
targets with known UV fluxes. By taking advantage of the snapshot
observing mode we will efficiently obtain a large number of spectra
suitable for the study of the highly ionized hot component of the
interstellar medium {ISM}. Our goals are to explore the physical
conditions in and distribution of such gas, as well as to explore the
nature of the interfaces between the hot ISM and the other interstellar gas
phases. The observations completed with no reported problems.

1.22 Completed STIS/MA1 8843 (Cycle 9 MAMA Dark Measurements)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (MA1) was used to perform
the routine monitoring of the MAMA detector dark noise. The proposal
completed nominally.

1.23 Completed STIS/CCD 8840 (Read Noise Monitor)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to measure
the read noise of all the amplifiers on the STIS CCD using pairs of bias
frames. Full frame and binned observations are made in both Gain 1 and
Gain 4, with binning factors of 1 x 1, 1 x 2, 2 x 1 and 2 x 2. All
exposures are internals. The observations completed with no reported problems.

1.24 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.

1.25 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.

1.26 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.

1.27 Completed Two Sets of 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. As described in 2.1 and
HSTAR 8081, the acquisition for the first iteration of this proposal
failed, the take data flag remained down, and all observations in this
iteration were lost. Otherwise, the proposal completed normally.

1.28 Completed WF/PC-2 8683 (Imaging Of Brightest Cluster Galaxies: The
High End Of The Black Hole Mass Distribution)

The WF/PC-2 was used to make kinematic black hole detections in
galaxies to decide whether they indicate that the mass correlates with both
optical luminosity and radio power. The observation completed with no
reported problems.

2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:

Scheduled Acquisitions: 28

Successful: 27

As documented in HSTAR 8081, the acquisition scheduled for
049/172454Z failed when the scan step limit was exceeded on FGS-2. This
followed a tracker update failure (see 2.2). The proposals detailed in
1.1, 1.8, and 1.27 were affected.
Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 17
Successful: 17

2.2 FHST Updates:

Scheduled: 58

Successful: 53

Per HSTAR 8080, four consecutive updates (two full maneuver and two
roll delay), beginning at 048/140216Z failed due to tracker #1. No
attitude errors or guide star acquisition failed resulted. The following
full maneuver updates were successful.

The update at 049/171852Z also failed. The following acquisition
also failed (see HSTAR 8081 and 2.1.

2.3 Operations Notes:

Using ROP SR-1A, the SSR EDAC error counter was cleared seven times.

The engineering status bu

ffer limits were adjusted on four
occasions per ROP DF-18A.

The high/low gyro bias update triplet was uplinked at 047/`944Z as
directed by an operations request.

Prime operations transferred to CCS-G at 050/0217Z when CCS-A
experienced a fatal application server error. The server was recovered,
indicating 512k memory available instead of the expected 762k. Operations
remain on CCS-G pending further analysis.

The STIS MCE-2 reset at 048/220812Z 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 048/2211Z. MAMA-2 will be recovered at
050/2238Z, the time of the next high voltage on commanding.

3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.