Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report #2978 – 17 Oct 2001

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

DAILY REPORT #2978

PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 10/16/01 – 0000Z (UTC) 10/17/01

Daily Status Report as of 290/0000Z

1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:

1.1 Completed Three Sets of WF/PC-2 8059 (POMS Test Proposal: Targeted
Parallel Archive Proposal)

The WF/PC-2 was used to observe the parallel opportunities
available in the neighborhood of bright galaxies are treated in a slightly
different way from the normal pure parallels. Local Group galaxies offer
the opportunity for a closer look at young stellar
populations. Narrow-band images in F656N can be used both to identify
young stars via their emission lines, and to map the gas distribution in
star-forming regions. The observations completed nominally.

1.2 Completed STIS/CCD/MA2 9116 (Understanding High-Redshift and
Starburst Galaxies: A UV Spectroscopic Survey of B- Stars in the SMC)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA2) was used to
construct a high quality spectral library at low metallicity in order to
synthesize the UV spectra of high redshift star-forming galaxies and nearby
starbursts. No problems were reported.

1.3 Completed Three 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 STIS/MA1 8920 (Cycle 10 MAMA Dark Measurements)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (MA1) was used to perform
the routine monitoring of the MAMA detector dark noise, and is the primary
means of checking on health of the MAMA detectors systems through frequent
monitoring of the background count rate. The proposal completed with no
reported anomalous activity.

1.5 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 8651 (UV Spectroscopy in the Magellanic
Bridge: A Typical QSO Absorption Line System?)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to
perform echelle UV absorption line spectroscopy through the Magellanic
Bridge {near the SMC} to probe the temperature, ionization, and kinematic
structure in a metal- poor environment like those observed in the early
universe. The sightline toward the QSO B0312-770 is especially interesting
because of the proximity of the absorber and the radio loud background
source. The observations completed nominally.

1.6 Completed Four 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.

1.7 Completed 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.

1.8 Completed STIS/CCD 9176 (LMC Eclipsing Binaries with Cepheid
Components: The Key to the Extragalactic Distance Scale)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to
determine the distance to the LMC and to observe the Cepheid P-L that form
the backbone of the Cosmic Distance Scale and the determination of
H_degrees. Unfortunately, in spite of concerted efforts of many
investigators, the zero point of the Cepheid P-L law and the LMC distance
remain controversial and uncertain to ~10-15, using eclipsing binaries
{EBs} as “standard candles” to include two recently discovered LMC
eclipsing binaries {EBs} with Cepheid components. These observations of
these extraordinary systems hold the key to determining simultaneously the
Cepheid P-L zero point and the LMC distance, and to provide a direct test
of the Baade-Wesselink parallax method. There were no reported problems.

1.9 Completed Two Sets of 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.

1.10 Completed Two 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.

1.11 Completed STIS/CCD 9107 (The Fundamental Plane for Nuclear Black
Holes)

The pace Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to conduct
more in-depth searches for supermassive black holes in galaxy
centers. Previous work has led to the discoveries that {1} most or all hot
galaxies contain massive dark objects at their centers, presumably black
holes; {2} there is a remarkably tight correlation between the black-hole
mass and the luminosity-weighted velocity dispersion of the hot component
of the galaxy. This mbh-Sigma relation has a scatter which is <0.3 dex in mbh and consistent with zero. This relationship suggests a strong link between black-hole formation, AGN activity, and galaxy formation, and once it is understood this link should advance our understanding of all three processes. The goal of this proposal is to investigate the scatter in the mbh-Sigma relation and the role of possible second parameters, by examining a sample of galaxies at fixed velocity dispersion Sigma=200+/- 20 kms. This approach decouples the effects of a second parameter from uncertainties in the shape of the mbh-Sigma relation, and minimizes spurious correlations because all of the galaxies will be studied using the same well-tested observational and modeling techniques. No anomalous activity occurred.

1.12 Completed 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.

1.13 Completed STIS/CCD 8925 (Coronagraphic PSFs)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to perform
additional high dynamic range, high spatial resolution coronagraphic
imaging of circumstellar nebulosity that has come of age with access to
HST’s stable point spread function and the coronagraphic
capabilities. Subtraction of a PSF calibration star has proven to be an
effective way of separating the PSF from the nebulosity of scientific
interest. All observations completed nominally.

1.14 Completed STIS/CCD 9136 (T Tauri Star Coronagraphic Survey: A PMS
Protoplanetary Disk Census)

The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to observe
pre-main sequence solar-mass stars, the T Tauri stars that Millimeter and
IR studies suggest at least 50 percent have circumstellar disks similar to
the disk from which our planetary system formed. High spatial resolution,
high dynamic range imaging of such systems will map the spatial
distribution of material around the star, constraining the disk sizes and
inclinations, and provide a first assessment of when structure in the disk,
such as cleared central zones and annuli, which has been linked to planet
formation, develops. All observations completed without incident.

2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:

Scheduled Acquisitions: 10

Successful: 10

Per HSTAR 8369, the acquisition at 290/071525Z defaulted to fine
lock backup on FGS-2 only when the scan step limit was exceeded on
FGS-3. Two proposals, each occurring during the period of the next report
may have been affected: STIS 9088 and WF/PC-2 9244.

Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 6

Successful: 6

2.2 FHST Updates:

Scheduled: 21

Successful: 21

2.3 Operations Notes:

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

3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.