Status Report

Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report #2945 – 28 Aug 2001

By SpaceRef Editor

August 28, 2001

Filed under Hubble Space Telescope, Space Telescope Science Institute, US

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

DAILY REPORT #2945

PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 08/27/01 – 0000Z (UTC) 08/28/01

Daily Status Report as of 240/0000Z

1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:

1.1 Completed Two 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.

1.2 Completed STIS/CCD/MA2 9154 (Spatial Distribution Of The Gas Inside
The Beta Pic Disk)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA2) was used to
investigate the gas and dust disk surrounding Beta Pictoris that will give
clues to the understanding of the late stages of planetary
formation. There was no anomalous activity.

1.3 Completed Three 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.

1.4 Completed 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.

1.5 Completed WF/PC-2 9142 (The Structure and Physics of Extragalactic
Jets)

The WF/PC-2 was used to perform an ongoing investigation into the
physics of jets. It is proposed to obtain polarimetry of the jets of 3C
264 and 3C 78. No problems were reported.

1.6 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.

1.7 Completed Three 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.

1.8 Completed STIS/MA2 8863 (NUV-MAMA Cycle 9 Flats)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (MA2) was used to obtain
NUV-MAMA observations of the internal Deuterium lamp to construct an NUV
flat applicable to all NUV modes. There were no reported problems.

1.9 Completed STIS/MA1/MA2 8917 (MAMA Dispersion Solution Check)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (MA1 and MA2) was used to
determine wavelength dispersion solutions on a yearly basis as part of a
long-term monitoring program {implemented as Program 7651 in Cycle 7,
Program 8430 in Cycle 8 and 8859 in Cycle 9}. No anomalous activity was
reported.

1.10 Completed Four Sets of 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. The observations were completed as planned, and no
anomalies were reported.

1.11 Completed Five 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.

1.12 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 WF/PC-2 9124 (Mid-UV SNAPSHOT Survey of Nearby
Irregulars: Galaxy Structure and Evolution Benchmark)

The WF/PC-2 was used to investigate the relation between star
formation and the global physical characteristics of galaxies to interpret
the morphologies of distant galaxies in terms of their evolutionary
status. Distant galaxies are primarily observed in their rest frame
mid-ultraviolet. They resemble nearby late-type galaxies, but are they
really physically similar classes of objects? It is proposed to address
this question through a SNAPSHOT survey in the 2 mid-UV filter F300W of 98
nearby late-type, irregular and peculiar galaxies. No problems were reported.

1.14 Completed STIS/CCD 7912 (STIS Parallel Archive Proposal – Nearby
Galaxies – Imaging and Spectroscopy)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to make
parallel observations of nearby galaxies. This survey will be useful to
study the star formation histories, chemical evolution, and distances to
these galaxies. These data will be placed immediately into the Hubble Data
Archive. The observations were completed as scheduled, and no problems
were reported.

1.15 Completed WF/PC-2 9087 (Black Hole X-ray Transients and X-ray
Binaries in M31)

The WF/PC-2 was used to search for M31 for x-ray transients which
had previously been seen as part of the Chandra Guaranteed Time
Observations {GTO} program. The x-ray properties of these transient
sources {spectra, variability} allow us to determine whether the accreting
object is a black hole or a neutron star. It is proposed to determine the
nature of the mass-losing star. Massive stars will show little {<2 mag} change in their UV luminosities during outbursts, while low-mass stars will show large {greater than 5 mag} changes in their UV luminosities. By determining the nature of the primary {accreting} and secondary stars in these x-ray transients, we will have the first dataset that will allow the evolution of black hole and neutron star binaries to be studied in an external galaxy. The proposal completed nominally.

1.16 Completed FGS/1 9034 (The Masses and Luminosities of Population II
Stars)

Fine Guidance Sensor #1 was used to observe the mass-luminosity
relation {MLR} of Population II stars of which very little is currently
known. With the advent of the Hipparcos Catalogue, improved distances to
many spectroscopic binaries known to be Pop II systems are now
available. After surveying the literature and making reasonable estimates
of the secondary masses, we find 13 systems whose minimum separation should
be larger than the resolution limit of FGS #1. The observations completed
nominally.

1.17 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.

1.18 Completed STIS/CCD 9066 (Closing in on the Hydrogen Reionization
Edge of the Universe)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used in parallel
constrain the Hydrogen reionization edge in emission that marks the
transition from a neutral to a fully ionized IGM at a predicted
redshifts. The proposal completed uneventfully.

1.19 Completed WF/PC-2 9145 (A Snapshot Survey of the Optically
Selected Type-2 Quasars)

The WF/PC-2 was used to observe an identified population of
emission-line objects in DPOSS, which can be plausibly interpreted as the
long-sought type-2 quasars. They have high-ionization Seyfert-2 like
spectra, but with narrow-line luminosities comparable to those of the
luminous type-1 quasars in the same redshift range. This population may be
a major contributor to the cosmic hard x-ray background. It is proposed to
obtain multi-color images of a representative sample of these objects, in
order to examine their morphology. We may be able to detect point-like
nuclei which are not detectable in ground-based images, the dust lanes
hiding them from our view, possible evidence for tidal interactions and the
overall morphology of their hosts, etc. The proposal completed with no
reported problems.

1.20 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD 9128 (A Snapshot Survey of
Absorption Lines from High Velocity Clouds in the Milky Way)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to search
for Mg II and Mg I absorption from Galactic High Velocity Clouds {HVCs}
along the sightlines of 51 of the brightest QSOs, BL Lacs and Seyfert 2
galaxies in the sky. The observations completed with no rpeorted problems.

1.21 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.

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: 29

Successful: 29

2.3 Operations Notes: