Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report #2957 – 17 Sep 2001

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

DAILY REPORT #2957

PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 09/14/01 – 0000Z (UTC) 09/17/01

Daily Status Report as of 260/0000Z

1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:

1.1 Completed Twenty 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.

1.2 Completed Six Sets of STIS/CCD 8901 (Dark Monitor-Part 1)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to monitor
the darks. There was no anomalous activity.

1.3 Completed Seven Sets of WF/PC-2 8936 (Cycle 10 Supplemental Darks
Pt1/3)

The WF/PC-2 was used to perform a dark calibration program that
obtains three dark frames every day to provide data for monitoring and
characterizing the evolution of hot pixels. The proposal completed with no
reported problems.

1.4 Completed WF/PC-2 9045 (The Relationship Between Radio Luminosity
and Radio-Loud AGN Host Galaxy Properties)

The WF/PC-2 was used to determine the relationship between the
properties of the host galaxies of radio-loud AGN and their radio
luminosities. Previous studies in this area with the HST have concentrated
on the 3C sample which shows a tight correlation between luminosity and
redshift, such that evolutionary effects cannot be distinguished from those
depending upon radio luminosity. Our sample of 46 radio galaxies at z ~
0.5 comes from four complete, low-frequency-selected samples of radio
sources with differing flux limits. Thus the total sample spans an
unprecedented three orders of magnitude in radio luminosity at a fixed
redshift interval. The proposal completed with no reported problems.

1.5 Completed Five 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. As described in HSTAR 8346 and 2.1, the acquisition for the
third iteration of this proposal defaulted to fine lock backup on one FGS
only, possibly affecting the observations in this iteration. Otherwise,
the observations were completed as planned, and no further anomalies were
reported.

1.6 Completed Three Sets of STIS/CCD 8903 (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. There were no problems.

1.7 Completed STIS/CCD 9121 (Evolution of the Host Galaxies in Low-
Power AGN)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to study
the evolution of low-power AGN host galaxies to z~1.3, allowing the direct
study of how the formation and life cycles of radio-loud AGN depend on
intrinsic power. There were no reported problems.

1.8 Completed Five 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.

1.9 Completed WF/PC-2 8584 (Calibrating the Metallicity Dependence of
the Cepheid PL Relation)

The WF/PC-2 was used to determine the uncertainty in the metal
abundance dependence of the Cepheid PL relation that remains as one of the
largest sources of systematic error in the Cepheid distance scale and in
the extragalactic distance scale as a whole. There were no reported
problems.

1.10 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.

1.11 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.

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

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) 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.

1.13 Completed STIS/CCD 9148 (Light Echos and the Nature of Type Ia
Supernovae)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to take
STIS snapshot images of a subset of 43 well observed Type Ia supernovae
{SNIa}, most of which have been discovered in late type galaxies over the
last 40 years to make a systematic search for light echos around SN
Ia. STIS will also observe a sample of 10 SN II and SN Ib/c, which are
believed to be the result of massive star core collapse and, therefore, to
be thin-disk population objects, in order to make an empirical calibration
of the accuracy of our method for determining scale heights. The SN Ia
sample will provide a direct as well as accurate estimate of the scale
height of SN Ia which is an important clue to the progenitors of these
events. The proposal completed nominally.

1.14 Completed STIS/CCD/MA2 9040 (Baryons In Intermediate Redshift {Z >
1} OVI Absorbers)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA2) was used to
search for intervening OVI absorption systems in two further extremely UV
bright intermediate redshift QSOs {HS 0747 + 4259, z = 1.9, V = 15.6; HS
0818+2554, z = 1.5, V = 15.4} using the STIS E230M Echelle mode. The
scientific aim is to measure the baryonic fraction in the warm-hot
intergalactic medium at redshifts 1 <=q z <=q 1.8. Present existing data on HE 0515-4414 taken also with STIS E230M seem to indicate that the baryonic fraction at z = 1.5 is lower by a factor of ~ 15 than the high value found by Tripp et al. {2000} for z < 0.3. Our results need to be confirmed by more lines of sight, and we plan to test hierarchical structure formation models which predict a rapid evolution between z = 1.5 and z = 0. The observations completed as planned with no reported anomalous activity.

1.15 Completed WF/PC-2 9060 (Photometry of a Statistically Significant
Sample of Kuiper Belt Objects)

The WF/PC-2 was used to propel the physical study of KBOs forward
by performing accurate photometry at V, R, and I on a sample of up to 150
KBOs. The sample is made up of objects that will be observed at thermal
infrared wavelengths by SIRTF and will be used with those data to derive
the first accurate diameters and albedos for a large sample of KBOs. As
detailed in 2.1 and HSTAR 8344, the acquisition for this proposal defaulted
to fine lock backup on one FGS only, possibly affecting six
observations. Otherwise, the observations completed nominally.

1.16 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 9064 (HI Detection of an Extra-Solar
Planetary Atmosphere)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to
observe the extra-solar planet discovered around HD 209458 that is the
unique one also detected through occultation. During its transit, we will
obtain spectra of the HI and DI Lyman-Alpha line at 1215 Angstrom. No
problems occurred.

1.17 Completed STIS/MA2 8710 (Timing And Proper Motion Measurement Of
The Proposed Optical Counterpart Of The Nearby Pulsar PSR1929+10)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (MA2) was used to observe
PSR1932+10, an old, nearby isolated neutron star detected as an X-ray
pulsar. Optical observations of neutron stars include both young and
middle-aged objects for which different emission models {e.g.
magnetospheric and thermal} have been proposed. However, the general
picture is far from being clear. A firm optical identification of
PSR1929+10 would thus be crucial to understand the long term evolution of
the optical luminosity of pulsars and to investigate possible turnovers in
the emission physics. No anomalous activity occurred.

1.18 Completed STIC/CCD 8916 (Spectroscopic Sensitivity Workout:
First-order Modes)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to measure
the basic sensitivity for all supported MAMA and CCD first-order
spectroscopic modes. Sensitivity measurements are done for all supported
tilts of the gratings, at a S/N suitable to any particular setting, in
order to get all measurements done in a reasonable number of orbits but
still get a very accurate sensitivity measurement. There were no reported
problems.

1.19 Completed WF/PC-2 9249 (POMS Test Proposal: WFII Backup Parallel
Archive Proposal II)

The WF/PC-2 was used to execute a POMS test proposal designed to
simulate scientific plans. The proposal completed with no reported
problems.

1.20 Completed STIS/CCD 9088 (Next Generation Spectral Library of Stars)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to produce
a “Next Generation” Spectral Library of 600 stars for use in modeling the
integrated light of galaxies and clusters by using the low dispersion UV
and optical gratings of STIS. The library will be roughly equally divided
among four metallicities, very low {Fe/H < -1.5}, low {-1.5 < Fe/H < -0.5}, near-solar {-0.5 < Fe/H < 0.1}, and super-solar {Fe/H > 0.1}, well-sampling
the entire HR-diagram in each bin. Such a library will surpass all extant
compilations and have lasting archival value, well into the Next Generation
Space Telescope era. No problems occurred.

1.21 Completed STIS/CCD/MA2 9048 (Boron Constraints on Slow Mixing in
Low Mass Stars)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA2) was used to
observe the atomic and nuclear characteristics of the light elements Li, Be
and B, that make their photospheric abundances ideal tracers of internal
physical processes in stars. Both Li and Be have been heavily utilized to
this end since their diminished abundances are a direct result of the
extent of internal slow mixing between surface and interior layers, as has
been shown with ground-based data. Boron provides a fresh and special
probe because it survives to greater depths inside stars than does Li or
Be, and can thus uniquely reveal the depth of mixing. It is proposed to
observe B in stars with very large depletions of Li and Be, i.e. stars
which have been the most seriously affected by mixing. No problems
occurred.

1.22 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2/STIS/CCD 8577 (Ozone, Condensates,
and Dust in the Martian Atmosphere)

The WF/PC-2 and the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) were
used to study the spatial and seasonal variations in ozone, condensates,
and dust in the Martian atmosphere. The data obtained promise to be
critical in addressing recent breakthroughs in understanding the basic
radiative, transport, and microphysical processes that provide for both
long-term and short-term balance within the global Mars climate system. As
described in HSTAR 8346 and 2.1, the acquisition for the final iteration of
this proposal defaulted to fine lock backup on one FGS only, possibly
affecting the observations in this iteration. There were no other reported
problems.

1.23 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
HSTAR 8346 and 2.1, the acquisition for this proposal defaulted to fine
lock backup on one FGS only, possibly affecting the observations. There
were no other reported problems.

1.24 Completed WF/PC-2/STIS/CCD 9258 (Observatory Focus Monitor)

The WF/PC-2 and the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph were used
to more accurately define the HST focus. The HST focus drifts slowly and
shows evidence of undergoing slips of a few microns at random times. The
rate of the WF/PC-2 monitoring program is insufficient to track and/or
understand OTA behavior in order to request timely and appropriate
Secondary Mirror corrections. There were no reported problems.

1.25 Completed STIS/CCD 8929 (First-order LSFs for Pseudo-Aperture
Locations)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to measure
the LSFs for the CCD spectroscopic modes at the new pseudo-aperture

locations. The proposal completed as planned.

1.26 Completed Two Sets of 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.

1.27 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.

1.28 Completed FGS/1 9168 (The Distances to AM CVn Stars)

Fine Guidance Sensor (FGS) #1 was used to determine the parallaxes
and proper motions of the five brightest of the seven known AM CVn
systems. AM CVn systems are binaries where mass is transferred from a
completely hydrogen-deficient, degenerate mass donor to a white dwarf
primary through a helium accretion disk. A better understanding of these
systems is crucial for a number of reasons: (1) to study the late stages of
binary evolution, (2) to study the effect of chemical composition on the
physics of accretion discs, (3) to estimate their contribution to the
Supernovae Ia rate, and (4) to estimate their contribution to the
gravitational radiation background. All observations completed with no
reported problems.

1.29 Completed WF/PC-2 8718 (Understanding the Anomalous Hot Stellar
Population in Galactic Globular Clusters)

The WF/PC-2 was used to image in mid- {F255W} and near-UV {F336W}
the globular cluster NGC6441. During the HST survey, it was found that
these objects have a horizontal branch with an anomalously extended blue
tail and puzzling gaps along it. There were no reported problems.

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

The WF/PC-2 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.

1.31 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 9243 (Probing the Physical Conditoins of an
Interstellar Bubble around an O Star)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to
observe the O star Hd 148937 that is surrounded with an almost spherical H
II region. Interior to this H II region are arcuate filaments seen in [O
III] that delineate the periphery of an interstellar bubble. Interior to
this bubble is an unusual bi-polar nebular complex known as NGC
6164-5. High resolution STIS spectroscopic observations are to be made
with the goal of determining the expansion velocity of the interstellar
bubble and the H II region that encompasses this nebular complex. The
column densities deduced from the UV absoption features will pose strong
constraints on the physics of interstellar bubbles. The observations
completed with no reported problems.

1.32 Completed WF/PC-2 9160 (Disks and Envelopes of Nearby Nebulous
Young Stellar Objects: A Snapshot Survey)

The WF/PC-2 was used to perform a snapshot survey of nearby
nebulous young stellar objects to study the detailed morphology of the
their disks and envelopes and probe the effect of inclination on the
infrared spectral energy distribution of disk/envelope systems. The
proposal completed as planned.

2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:

Scheduled Acquisitions: 24

Successful: 24

Per HSTAR 8344, the acquisition at 257/193121Z defaulted to fine
lock backup on FGS-3 only when the scan step limit was exceeded on
FGS-2. The proposal described in 1.15 may have been affected.

The acquisition at 258/172715Z defaulted to fine lock backup on
FGS-1 only when the sacna step limit was exceeded on FGS-2. HSTAR 8346 was
written. The proposals detailed in 1.5, 1.22 and 1.23 may have been
affected.

Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 25

Successful: 25

2.2 FHST Updates:

Scheduled: 60

Successful: 60

2.3 Operations Notes:

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

A TTR was written for multiple 32K engineering data dropouts
beginning at 257/1756Z. The data is recoverable.

ROP DF-18A was utilized twice to reset the engineering status
buffer limits.

A TTR was generated for data dropouts during a NSSC-1 uplink at
259/1132Z. SI C&DH errors were reset at 259/1137Z per ROP NS-5.

There was an EMC retry at 259/124501Z. The STIS flight software
error counter was reset at 259/1245Z, using ROP NS-12.

Data was lost for the interval 260/0000Z to 260/0025Z due to bad
weather at WSGT. A TTR was written.

ROP SR-4A was used to start and stop SSR engineering data for the
interval 260/0028Z to 260/0144Z. ROP SR-8 was also used to command
autonomous engineering record from 260/0047Z until 260/0144Z.

3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.