Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report #2872 – 15 May 2001
HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE
DAILY REPORT #2872
PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 05/14/01 – 0000Z (UTC) 05/15/01
Daily Status Report as of 135/0000Z
1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:
1.1 Completed Three Sets of STIS/CCD 8845 (Spectroscopic Flats C9)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to obtain
CCD flats in the spectroscopic mode. The observations completed with no
reported problems.
1.2 Completed WF/PC-2 8719 (A Continuation Of A Snapshot Survey Of X-
Ray Selected Central Cluster Galaxies)
The WF/PC-2 was used to perform snapshot images of a representative
subset of the central cluster galaxies from an X-ray selected cluster
sample that would provide important constraints on the formation and
evolution of dust in cluster cores that cannot be obtained from
ground-based observations. The observations completed as planned.
1.3 Completed Twelve Sets of STIS/CCD 9248 (Probing the Large Scale
Structure: Cosmic Shear Observations)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to measure
the distortion of light bundles from distant galaxies that probe the
statistical properties of the intervening inhomogeneous {dark} matter
distribution. Its tidal gravitational field distorts the observable image
shapes thereby causing a coherent ellipticity pattern {Cosmic Shear}. The
observations completed nominally.
1.4 Completed Three Sets of STIS/CCD 8864 (CCD Dark Monitor-Part 2)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to monitor
the darks for the CCD. The proposal completed nominally.
1.5 Completed Four Sets of WF/PC-2 8828 (Cycle 9 Supplemental Darks pt3/3)
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 with no reported problems.
1.6 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 8599 (A Census of Nuclear Star
Clusters in Late-Type Spiral Galaxies)
The WF/PC-2 was used to conduct an I-band snapshot survey of a
well-defined sample of nearby, face-on spiral galaxies of type Scd or
later. The proposal completed nominally.
1.7 Completed Two Sets of 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.
1.8 Completed STIS/MA1 8658 (Atmospheric Escape and the D/H Ratio in
Mars’ Atmosphere)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (MA1) was used to observe
the highly extended upper atmosphere and the UV airglow of Mars that have
not been studied by any in situ spacecraft since Mariner 9 in 1972. At the
same time, one of the main elements of NASA’s space science program today
is the study of Mars and how it has evolved over time to a hostile
environment, compared with the favorable conditions on the Earth. The
availability of long aperture spatially resolved UV spectra with STIS makes
it possible to obtain unique information on the extended upper atmosphere
of Mars by mapping the H and O dayglow emissions with altitude above the
limb. It is proposed to make these observations just before Mars
opposition near the end of HST cycle 9. Initial modeling indicates that we
will have sufficient angular resolution and sensitivity to measure the
scale heights of the suprathermal atom populations of H and O atoms. We
also propose to determine accurate values for the D and H columns, and the
D/H ratio, in the upper atmosphere of Mars. The present-day D/H ratio
gives vital information leading to understanding the evolution of Mars’
atmosphere, the historic escape of water into space, and potentially the
remaining water abundance on Mars. The observations completed with no
problems.
1.9 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD 8865 (Bias Monitor-Part 2)
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 anomalous activity.
1.10 Completed STIS/CCD 8667 (Nuclear Stellar Disks in Early Galaxies:
Black Hole Masses and Disk/Bar/Bulge Evolution)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to image of
an additional four E/SO galaxies to: {1} test whether the unusual
M_bh/M_bulge ratio is typical of these nuclear disk galaxies and {2} search
for additional ring/bar structures will help determine the source of the
accreted material and the time sequence of the disk/bar/bulge/Black Hole
fueling connection. The observations completed with no reported anomalies.
1.11 Completed STIS/CCD/MA2 8672 (Establishing the Gaseous Phases of
Galaxies Following the Epoch of Star Formation)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA2) was used in
an ambitious program designed to: {1} establish if high ionization,
metal-rich halos/coronae were in place as early as z~1, which would imply
that extended, early-epoch, galactic halos result from reprocessed galactic
gas and that the kinematics are mechanically driven; {2} obtain the first
comparison of the relative kinematics of low and high ionization species in
z~1 galaxies, covering a wide range of N{HI} environments and MgII
kinematic spreads up to ~400 km/s; {3} discriminate between single-phase
and multi-phase ionization, and therefore spatial, absorbing structures
{eg. MgII clouds embedded in diffuse high ionization halos}; and {4} place
constraints on the gas-phase metallicites in early-epoch galaxies. The
observations complete with no reported problems.
1.12 Completed WF/PC-2 9244 (POMS Test Proposal: WFII Parallel Archive
Proposal Continuation)
The WF/PC-2 was used to perform a generic target version of the
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 observations completed with no anomalous
activity.
1.13 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 8582 (UV Detectability of Bright Quasars in
the Sloan Fields)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to
examine the He II Ly alpha absorption at 304{1+z} Angstrom which is a far
more sensitive tracer of the intergalactic medium {IGM} than its H I
counterpart. The recent detections of such absorption in four quasars,
albeit with limited data quality and a small sample size, demonstrate the
great potential of such a probe. There were no reported problems.
1.14 Completed S/C 5582 (FOC/48 Monthly Activation (Camera Section
Only): Cycle 4)
This proposal was executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted.
1.15 Completed WF/PC-2 8591 (The Smallest Nuclear Black Holes)
The WF/PC-2 was used to observe small nuclear black holes which are
the last major unexplored part of BH parameter space, searching for the
smallest BHs that HST can possibly find. The proposal completed with no
reported anomalies.
1.16 Completed FOC/96 7923 (FOC F/96 Turn-on)
The Faint Object Camera (f/96) was used to take an internal flat
and a dark to ensure that the 30-day limit for the FOC is not
exceeded. The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies
were noted.
1.17 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.
1.18 Completed WF/PC-2 9149 (The Nature Of The Most Luminous Star-
Forming Galaxies In The Redshift Range 0.4 To 1.5)
The WF/PC-2 was used to perform additional ISO deep surveys that have
previously uncovered a population of galaxies which are making stars at the
fantastic rate of > 100 M_odotyr^-1 in the redshift range from 0.4 to
1.5. However this population evolves rapidly and luminous star-forming
galaxies are 5 to 10 times more numerous at z=1 than today. Combination of
ISO data with radio {VLA}, sub-mm {SCUBA} and optical data shows that they
contribute a major fraction {30-50$ representing only a few percent of the
field galaxy population. HST imaging of a small subsample of these
galaxies indicates that most of them are disks showing disrupted
morphologies or possessing companions, emphasizing the role of merging in
their star formation history. The proposal completed without incident.
1.19 Completed WF/PC-2 8824 (Decontaminations and Associated
Observations Pt. 3/4)
The WF/PC-2 was used for the monthly WFPC2 decons. Also included
are instrument monitors tied to decons: photometric stability check, focus
monitor, pre- and post-decon internals {bias, intflats, kspots, & darks},
UV throughput check, VISFLAT sweep, and internal UV flat check. There were
no reported problems.
2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:
2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:
Scheduled Acquisitions: 7
Successful: 7
Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 11
Successful: 11
2.2 FHST Updates:
Scheduled: 5
Successful: 5
2.3 Operations Notes:
Using ROP SR-1A, the SSR EDAC error counter was cleared three times.
As directed by ROP DF-07A, the ephemeris table was uplinked at
135/1017Z.
The STIS MCE-2 reset at 135/033950Z while the low voltage was on
and while outside any SAA interval. The STIS flight software error counter
was cleared at 135/0446Z per ROP NS-12. MAMA-2 was recovered via normal
SMS commanding at 135/0418Z.
3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:
Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.
