Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report #2896 – 19 June 2001

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

DAILY REPORT #2896

PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 06/18/01 – 0000Z (UTC) 06/19/01

Daily Status Report as of 170/0000Z

1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:

1.1 Completed WF/PC-2 8592 (Pixel Microlensing of M87)

The WF/PC-2 was used to undertake a pixel microlensing study of M87
in order to: 1} probe the lower end of the M87 IMF via star-star lensing,
2} possibly obtain the first evidence of Massive Compact Objects (MACHOs)
in the halo of a galaxy other than our own, and 3} search for intracluster
MACHOs. The proposal completed nominally.

1.2 Completed Three 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.

1.3 Completed WF/PC-2 9253 (Cycle 10 Astrometric Monitor)

The WF/PC-2 was used to verify relative positions of WF/PC-2 chips
with respect to one another. There were no reported problems.

1.4 Completed Six 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.

1.5 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.

1.6 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.

1.7 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 8585 (Cosmological Parameters from
Type Ia Supernovae at High Redshift)

The WF/PC-2 was used to measure the cosmological parameters, Omega,
Lambda, and thus the curvature, Omega_k, using Type Ia supernovae {SNe Ia}
as calibrated standard candles. There were no reported problems.

1.8 Completed FGS/1R 8783 (Orbits of Pre-Main Sequence Binaries)

FGS-1R was used to dynamically measure the masses of low mass
pre-main sequence stars. This is important because there are still no low
mass young stars with reliably known masses. In cycle 5 we began to map
the orbits of young multiple star systems in Taurus using FGS-3R. It is
proposed to continue to measure the orbits of the binary and triple systems
that have been determined to have the smallest angular separations with the
more capable FGS-1R. The proposal completed with no reported problems.

1.9 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.

1.10 Completed Three 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.

1.11 Completed WF/PC-2 8634 (Atmospheric Variability on Uranus and Neptune)

The WF/PC-2 was used to obtain snapshot observations of Uranus and
Neptune to monitor changes in their atmospheres on time scales of months to
years. Uranus is rapidly approaching equinox in 2007, with another 4
degrees of latitude in the northern hemisphere becoming visible every
year. Recent HST images during this unique epoch have revealed: {i}
strongly wavelength-dependent latitudinal structure, {ii} the presence of
numerous visible-wavelength cloud features in the northern hemisphere, and,
{iii} in the near-IR, discrete features northward of 25degrees N that have
the highest contrast ever seen for a Uranian cloud. Long-term ground-
based observations show seasonal brightness changes whose origins are not
well understood. Recent IR images of Neptune obtained using adaptive
optics on the Keck Telescope indicate that a new “Bright Companion” type of
feature has recently appeared in the southern hemisphere. Snapshot
observations of these two dynamic planets can supply context in which to
discern the nature of long-term changes in their latitudinal atmospheric
bands and to track the appearance, movement, and disappearance of discrete
albedo features. There were no reported problems.

1.12 Completed 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.

2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:

Scheduled Acquisitions: 12

Successful: 12

Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 5

Successful: 5

2.2 FHST Updates:

Scheduled: 22

Successful: 22

2.3 Operations Notes:

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) instrument remains
in safe mode. In preparation for the STIS Bus C anomaly test, FOC was
safed at 169/2255Z. PDU-2 current is now toggling between 2.4 and 2.6 amps.

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

At 169/1046Z, the engineering status buffer limits were adjusted
per ROP DF-18A.

As directed by ROP NS-5, SI C&DH errors were reset at 169/2258Z.

The ephemeris table was uplinked at 170/0115Z per ROP DF-07A.

3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

The STIS Bus C anomaly test will begin at approximately
170/122330Z. In order to characterize the fault, this test will cycle STIS
relays while Main Bus C is energized. Special High rate data will be
available during relay cycling.

Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.