Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report #2972 – 9 Oct 2001

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

DAILY REPORT #2972

PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 10/05/01 – 0000Z (UTC) 10/09/01

Daily Status Report as of 282/0000Z

1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:

1.1 Completed STIS/CCD 9187 (A Lyman Limit Snapshot Survey: The Search
for Candidate D/H Absorbers)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to measure
D/H in gas clouds seen against background QSOs. This provides a unique and
fundamental cosmological probe of the baryonic density parameter. To date,
most of the QSO absorption line D/H constraints have been derived at high
redshift. In this proposal the proposers investigate a lower redshift
range, because there are two potentially crucial advantages to be gained by
carrying out D/H measurements at intermediate redshift. First, the
background of HI forest lines is lower and contamination of the DI feature
is significantly reduced. Second, a far larger sample of very bright QSOs
exists. There were no reported problems.

1.2 Completed 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 reported problems.

1.3 Completed STIS /MA2 8590 (UV Imaging and Spectroscopy of Luminous
Blue Compact Galaxies from z=0 to z=1)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (MA2) was used to observe
two well-defined samples of low-mass starburst galaxies, one in the local
universe {z<0.1} and another at intermediate redshifts {0.2 < z < 0.7}. Both samples show optical sizes, morphologies, emission line widths, and luminosities comparable to those of LBGs at z=3, and are therefore probably the best local analogs and testbeds for further study of LBGs. Our main goals are to: {1} explore the morphologies, surface brightness distributions, and half-light radii of nearby starforming galaxies in the FUV, near Ly-alpha; {2} search for systematic differences among UV, optical, and near-IR morphologies and structural parameters; {3} investigate the intrinsic emission and absorption spectra near Ly-alpha of starbursting dwarf galaxies, with special attention to Ly- alpha profiles and interstellar and stellar photospheric absorption from Si II, O I, C II, Si IV, and C IV; {4} measure their FUV-optical colors and dust extinction properties; and {5} test the hypothesis that low-mass starbursts are the local counterparts of LBGs. The observation completed normally.

1.4 Completed Seven 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.

1.5 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.

1.6 Completed Sixteen 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.

1.7 Completed Eight Sets of WF/PC-2 8932 (Decontaminations and
Associated Observations Pt. 1/3)

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, &and
darks}, UV throughput check, VISFLAT sweep, and internal UV flat check. No
problems were reported.

1.8 Completed Four 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.

1.9 Completed Five Sets of STIS/CCD 8910 (Sparse Field CTE
Test-Internal {Cycle 10})

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to perform
CTE measurements that are made using the “sparse field test”, along both
the serial and parallel axes. This program needs special commanding to
provide {a} off-center MSM positionings of some slits, and {b} the ability
to read out with any amplifier {A, B, C, or D}. No problems were encountered.

1.10 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD/MA1 8684 (Emission Lines from
Photoionized Accretion Disks and Winds in AGNs)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to
observe the origin and dynamics of the gas that produces the broad optical
and ultraviolet emission lines in AGNs, a fundamental gap that remains in
our knowledge of AGNs. The proposal completed with no reported problems.

1.11 Completed Two Sets of STIS/MA1/MA2 8860 (MAMA Fold Distribution)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (MA1 and MA2) was used to
monitor the performance of MAMA microchannel plates using a MAMA fold
analysis procedure. The fold analysis provides a measurement of the
distribution of charge cloud sizes incident upon the anode giving some
measure of changes in the pulse-height distribution of the MCP and,
therefore, MCP gain. There were no problems.

1.12 Completed FGS/1 9230 (Parallaxes of Magnetic CVs)

Fine Guidance Sensor #1 was used to perform trigonometric
parallaxes of cataclysmic variable {CVs} that are needed to obtain reliable
information on luminosities, accretion rates, and on radii and masses of
the stellar components. All observations completed without incident.

1.13 Completed Fourteen 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.

1.14 Completed Seven 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.

1.15 Completed Three Sets of STIS/CCD 8896 (The Circumstellar Disk of
eps Eridani)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to obtain
coronagraphic images of the central region of the disk surrounding eps
Eri. There were no reported problems.

1.16 Completed Fourteen 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.

1.17 Completed Four 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.

1.18 Completed FGS/1 9237 (The Masses of the O-type Binary 15 Monocerotis)

Fine Guidance Sensor #1 was used to observe the O-type star 15 Mon
{HD 47839} that was recently discovered to be an astrometric and
spectroscopic binary with an orbital period of 25 years. It is the first
known O-star system to bridge the observational gap between the period
regimes normally probed by these techniques. The observations completed
with no reported problems.

1.19 Completed Two Sets of 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.

1.20 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. The
observations completed nominally.

1.21 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD/MA1/MA2 8205 (UV Spectroscopy of
Infalling Cometary Material in Solar-Type Pre-Main Sequence Stars)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD, MA1 and MA2) was
used to test whether models for the formation of the Solar System really
predict that an intermediate stage in planet formation was the assembly of
material in the disk into planetesimals, and that this should be a common
step in the evolution of planetary systems. There were no problems with
these observations.

1.22 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.

1.23 Completed Five Sets of 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.

1.24 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 9090 (Transition Region Emission in Very
Low Mass Stars)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to
determine the origin of the magnetic heating which produces hot outer
atmospheres in late-type stars and is one of the most interesting, and
elusive, problems in stellar astrophysics. No anomalies were encountered.

1.25 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 9257 (Cycle 10 Super-PSF)

The WF/PC-2 was used to obtain deep images of the WFPC2 Point
Spread Function (PSF) in several broadband filters in order to investigate
the 2-dimensional structure in the PSF wings and characterize the change in
structure with varying focus and target color. There were no reported
problems.

1.26 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD 9284 (POMS Test Proposal: STIS
Non-Scripted Parallel Proposal Continuation IV)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used in the
parallel mode to make some low galactic latitude archive observations. The
observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted.

1.27 Completed WF/PC-2/STIS/CCD 8573 (Newborn Planets and Brown Dwarf
Companions in IC 348)

The WF/PC-2 and the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) were
used to search for young giant planets and brown dwarfs around ~100
low-mass stars and brown dwarfs in the nearby cluster IC 348. The
observations completed with no reported problems.

1.28 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 8919 (MAMA Sensitivity and Focus Monitor C10)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to
monitor the sensitivity of each MAMA grating mode to detect any change due
to contamination or other causes, and also to monitor the STIS focus in a
spectroscopic and an imaging mode. All observations were successful.

1.29 Completed WF/PC-2 9155 (The Cepheid Distance to NGC 1637: A Direct
Comparison with the EPM Distance to SN 1999em)

The WF/PC-2 was used to directly compare distances estimated by two
primary extragalactic distance indicators. T he appearance of supernova
1999em, a bright, extremely well- observed type II plateau event in the
nearby SBc galaxy NGC 1637 offers the best chance to test the consistency
of the Expanding Photosphere Method {EPM} of supernova distance
determination with that derived from Cepheid variable stars. Although EPM
distances have been measured to 18 type II supernovae out to 180 Mpc and
used to determine Hubble’s constant independent of the Cepheid distance,
there have never been any measurements of Cepheids in a galaxy that has
hosted a normal type II-P supernova, the classic variety of core-collapse
event to which EPM-derived distances are most robust. The proposal
completed nominally.

1.30 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.

1.31 Completed STIS/CCD/MA2 8673 (The Properties of Ly-Alpha Absorbers
at Redshifts Between 0.9HST)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA2) was used
obtain new Echelle resolution spectra of three bright quasars which, when
combined with archived and scheduled observations, will be used to
characterize the properties of Ly-Alpha absorbers in the redshift range
0.9

1.32 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.

1.33 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. As described in 2.1 and HSTAR 8362, the acquisition for the third
this proposal defaulted to fine lock backup on one FGS only, possibly
affecting the observations in this iteration. Otherwise, the proposal
completed with no further reported problems.

1.34 Completed STIS/CCD/MA2 8569 (A New Survey for Low-Redshift Damped
Lyman-Alpha Lines in QSO MgII Systems)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA2) was used to
support studies which have shown that most of the observable neutral gas
mass in the Universe resides in QSO damped LyAlpha {DLA} systems. However,
at low redshift, DLA can only be found by searching in the UV with HST. By
boot-strapping from the MgII statistics, we will be able to further improve
the determination of the low- redshift statistical properties of DLA {their
incidence and cosmological mass density} and open up new opportunities for
studies at low redshift. As described in 2.1 and HSTAR 8362, the
acquisition for this proposal defaulted to fine lock backup on one FGS
only, possibly affecting the observations. Otherwise, the proposal
completed nominally.

1.35 Completed WF/PC-2 9267 (Supernova Search)

The WF/PC-2 was used to search for high-redshift supernovae in
GO-observed fields, taking advantage of good first-epoch observations and
of the scheduling opportunities available because STIS is not currently
observing. No anomalous activity was reported.

1.36 Completed WF/PC-2 9307 (Possible Resolution of Gravitationally
Lensed Images Due to an Intermediate Black Hole in the Galactic Disk)

The WF/PC-2 was used to obtain images of microlensing event
MACHO-99-BLG-22/OGLE-1999-BUL-32 which is likely to be a black hole. All
observations completed nominally.

2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:

Scheduled Acquisitions: 31

Successful: 31

Per HSTAR 8362, the acquisition at 281/102400Z defaulted to fine
lock backup on FGS-1 only when the scan step limit was exceeded on
FGS-3. The proposals detailed in 1.33 and 1.34 may have been affected.

Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 27

Successful: 27

2.2 FHST Updates:

Scheduled: 72

Successful: 72

2.3 Operations Notes:

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

The engineering status buffer limits were adjusted three times per
ROP DF-18A.

After the A-string software FEP hung at 278/2233Z (HSTAR 8361),
prime operations transferred to the G-string at 278/2235Z. Operations
returned to the A-string at 279/0000Z. Prime operations returned to the
G-string at 281/1807Z for some system administration work and returned
again to A-string at 281/2104Z.

There was a STIS EMC retry at 279/143958Z. Then, the STIS MCE-2
reset at 279/144434Z while the high voltage was off and while outside any
SAA interval. The STIS flight software error counter was reset at
279/1512Z as directed by ROP NS-12. MAMA-2 was recovered by normal SMS
commanding at 280/0358Z, the time of the next high voltage on commanding.

A TTR was written when a period of unrecoverable degraded
engineering data was received for the interval 280/015427Z to 280/015730Z.

Another TTR was generated when WSGT had a late acquisition of HST
data at 281/1513Z due to an SLGT handover. Eleven minutes of 32K
engineering data was lost.

The ephemeris table was uplinked at 282/0031Z per ROP DF-7A.

3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.