Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report #2935 – 14 Aug 2001

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

DAILY REPORT #2935

PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 08/13/01 – 0000Z (UTC) 08/14/01

Daily Status Report as of 226/0000Z

1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:

1.1 Completed STIS/CCD 8907 (Spectroscopic Flats C10)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to obtain
CCD flats in the spectroscopic mode. There were no reported problems.

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 Two Sets of STIS/CCD 9077 (Survey of the LMC Planetary
Nebulae)

The Space telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to perform
a snapshot survey of all known LMC planetary nebulae {PNe} in order to
study the co-evolution of the nebulae and their central stars, and to probe
the chemical enrichment history of the LMC. There were no reported problems.

1.4 Completed Five Sets of 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.

1.5 Completed Two 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.

1.6 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 8935 (Cycle 10 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.

1.7 Completed Seven Sets of STIS/CCD 8808 (POMS Test Proposal: STIS
Non-Scripted Parallel Proposal Continuation III)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to make
non-scripted, parallel observations as part of a POMS test proposal. As
described in 2.1 and HSTAR 8302, the acquisition for the final iteration of
this proposal defaulted to fine lock backup on one FGS only, possibly
affecting one observation. Otherwise, the observations completed with no
further anomalous activity.

1.8 Completed Three Sets of WF/PC-2 9042 (An Archive To Detect The
Progenitors Of Massive, Core-Collapse Supernovae)

The WF/PC-s was used to search for supernovae which have massive
star progenitors. The already extensive HST archive and high-resolution
ground-based images of galaxies within ~20 Mpc enables us to resolve and
quantify their individual bright stellar content. As massive, evolved
stars are the most luminous single objects in a galaxy, the progenitors of
core-collapse supernovae should be directly detectable on pre-explosion
images. One Type II progenitor has been observed this year, and the
investigators have proposed a short, companion WFPC2 proposal to confirm
this candidate and identify a second. The observations completed nominally.

1.9 Completed 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 8909 (CCD Dispersion Solutions)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to perform
wavelength dispersion solutions that are determined on a yearly basis as
part of a long-term monitoring program and to obtain deep engineering
wavecals for all CCD gratings at several wavelength centers. The proposal
completed with no reported problems.

1.11 Completed Four Sets of WF/PC-2 8935 (Cycle 10 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. As described in HSTAR 8301 and 2.1, the acquisition for the second
iteration of this proposal defaulted to fine lock backup on one FGS only,
possibly affecting one observation. Otherwise, the proposal completed with
no other reported problems.

1.12 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 8956 (Pre-SM Calibration)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used in
an exercise to prepare for the SMOV-3B program. Prior to SMOV3B, one
iteration of proposal 8960 {Jitter Test} for WD 2126+734 will be
performed. Also one iteration of 8961 {End of BEA Test} for each new flux
standard {WD 2126+734, WD 0320-539, WD 0710+741, and WD 0214+568} needed to
completely cover all possible Bright Earth Avoidance {BEA} dates will be
exercised. Finally, one extra standard is added {WD 1407-475} to fill the
gap around June when WD 0214+568 is too close to the Sun. This iteration
of the proposal completed with no reported problems.

1.13 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.

1.14 Completed WF/PC-2 8939 (Cycle 10 Internal Monitor)

The WF/PC-2 was used to calibrate the internal monitor, to be run
weekly to monitor the health of the cameras. No problems were encountered.

1.15 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2/STIS/MA1 8675 (The Massive Star
Content of NGC 6822)

The WF/PC-2 and the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (MA1) were
used to characterize the young, coeval stellar population discovered with
WFPC2 multiband imaging in a NGC6822 star-forming region, with follow-up
spectroscopy of the massive star candidates. The proposal completed with
no reported problems.

1.16 Completed Three Sets of WF/PC-2 8941 (Cycle 10 UV Earthflats)

The WF/PC-2 was used to monitor flat field stability by obtaining
sequences of earth streak flats to improve the quality of pipeline flat
fields for the WFPC2 UV filter set. The proposal had no problems.

1.17 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 9051 (Identifying Damped Lyman-alpha
Galaxies at z~1)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to
look for samped Lyman-alpha absorption systems that contain the bulk of the
neutral gas in the Universe in the redshift range z = 0.5 – 5 ,yet the
nature of the galaxies responsible for the absorption is not well
understood. Only recently have observers found more than a handful of
damped absorbers at redshifts z < 1.5. Using the FIRST Bright Quasar Survey {FBQS}, with over a 1000 quasars, the proposers have undertaken a survey to build a complete picture of he nature of the galaxies responsible for damped Lyman-alpha absorption systems at z~1 and to double the sample size at this redshift. No problems were encountered.

1.18 Completed STIS/CCD 9165 (A Damped LyAlpha System in a Close
Separation Lens)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) observed damped
LyAlpha absorption systems that hold key information about galaxy formation
and chemical evolution of the universe. It is proposed to conduct
spatially resolved absorption line spectroscopy in the only presently known
DLA system with two independent lines of sight. This object was discovered
recently by us in the course of an ongoing HST snapshot survey as a double
QSO at z=1.57 with an image separation of only 0.63 arcsec, almost
certainly due to gravitational lensing. The ground-based composite optical
spectrum shows an exceptionally strong Mg II+ Fe II absorption system at
z=0.93, which clearly indicates the presence of a damped LyAlpha absorber
{DLA} in the line of sight. The observations ended nominally.

1.19 Completed FGS/1 9169 (An Interferometric Harvest of Double
Degenerates)

Fine Guidance Sensor #1R was used to observe the white dwarf mass
and age distributions that hold clues to the star formation history of our
Galaxy and the age of the disk. No problems were reported.

1.20 Completed WF/PC-2 9057 (Host Galaxies of Obscured QSOs Identified
by 2MASS)

The WF/PC-2 was used to perform a snapshot survey of red QSOs
discovered in The Two Micron All Sky Survey {2MASS} to investigate the
detailed properties of their host galaxies. This large, possibly dominant,
population of QSOs in the local universe has been previously overlooked
because reddening by {intrinsic} obscuration along our line of sight causes
their colors to be too red for identification by traditional “UV- excess”
techniques. Their near-IR colors are similar to PG- type {UV-excess} QSOs,
but it is far from certain whether they are indeed from the same parent
population or represent a completely new class of QSO. As described in 2.1
and HSTAR 8302, the acquisition for this proposal defaulted to fine lock
backup on one FGS only, possibly affecting two observations. Otherwise,
there were no other reported problems.

1.21 Completed STIS/CCD 9285 (POMS Test Proposal: STIS Non-scripted
Parallel Proposal Continuation III)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to make low
galactic latitude, non-scripted parallel observations as part of a POMS
test proposal. As described in 2.1 and HSTAR 8302, the acquisition for
this proposal defaulted to fine lock backup on one FGS only, possibly
affecting one observation. Otherwise, the observations were completed as
planned, and no further anomalies were reported.

2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:

Scheduled Acquisitions: 12

Successful: 12

Per HSTAR 8301, the acquisition at 225/152216Z defaulted to fine
lock backup on FGS-1 only. The proposal detailed in 1.11 may have been
affected.

The acquisition at 225/223920Z also defaulted to fine lock backup,
this time on FGS-2 when the scan step limit was exceeded on FGS-1. The
proposals described in 1.7, 1.20 and 1.21 may have been affected.

Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 4

Successful: 4

2.2 FHST Updates:

Scheduled: 33

Successful: 33

2.3 Operations Notes:

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

The ephemeris table was uplinked at 226/0203Z per ROP DF-07A.

3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.