Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report #3024 – 27 Dec 2001
HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE
DAILY REPORT #3024
PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 12/21/01 – 0000Z (UTC) 12/27/01
Daily Status Report as of 361/0000Z
1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:
1.1 Completed Eleven 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.
1.2 Completed Fourteen Sets of WF/PC-2 8937 (Cycle 9 Supplemental Darks
pt2/3)
The WF/PC-2 was used obtain three dark frames every day to provide
data for monitoring and characterizing the evolution of hot pixels. No
problems were reported.
1.3 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.
1.4 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 8867 (Gamma-Ray Bursts: Discovering
The Progenitors And Understanding The Explosion – Visits A0-R0)
The WF/PC-2 was used to observe a gamma-ray burster,
GRB010921. Gamma-ray burst astronomy, one of the most active and exciting
frontiers in astrophysics, is now entering a critical stage — with
dramatic leaps in understanding of these events, as well as new
discoveries. Improvements in triggering and positioning accuracy provided
by the SAX and HETE-2 gamma-ray satellites will allow entirely new classes
of events to be studied. Given the recent progress in this field, the
proposers are now in a position to design precision, broadband measurements
that can provide quantitative information on the as-yet unknown energy
sources, the explosion geometry, and the surrounding medium. In
particular, the growing evidence of an intimate connection between SNe and
GRBs can be definitively tested. The proposal completed with no reported
problems.
1.5 Completed Seven Sets of WF/PC-2 8942 (Cycle 10 Intflat Sweeps and
Linearity Test)
The WF/PC-2 was used to monitor the pixel-to-pixel flatfield
response and provide a linearity check. These intflat sequences are done
once during the year and the images will provide a backup database in the
event of complete failure of the visflat lamp as well as allow monitoring
of the gain ratios. There were no reported problems.
1.6 Completed Five 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 Two Sets of 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.
1.8 Completed Seven 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.
1.9 Completed STIS/CCD 8908 (CCD Imaging Flats C10)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to
investigate flat-field stability over a monthly period. The proposal
completed with no reported problems.
1.10 Completed WF/PC-2 9072 (Dynamical Masses of White Dwarfs from
Resolved Sirius-Like Binaries)
The WF/PC-2 was used to observe resolved “Sirius-like” systems
containing hot white-dwarf companions of cooler main-sequence stars. It is
proposed to image them annually in the UV. No anomalous activity was reported.
1.11 Completed Four 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.
1.12 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 9137 (Quasar Absorbers and Large Scale
Structure)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to
perform spectroscopy of 15 bright quasars in a 22 square degree region that
has well-sampled galaxy redshifts. No problems were encountered.
1.13 Completed Five Sets of 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.
1.14 Completed STIS/CCD 8135 (Spectroscopy of Gravitational Lens
Candidates from the HST Survey of BL Lac Objects)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to perform
spectroscopic observations of two new gravitational lens candidates,
0502+675 and 1440+122. Each contains a double point source with separation
of only 0.3 arcsec. In each case, a candidate for the lensing galaxy is
also found. For 0502+675, a subsequent NICMOS H-band image shows that the
two point sources have similar R-H colors. STIS long-slit spectra of each
point source will determine whether these candidates are lenses and also
measure the redshift of the possible lensing galaxy. No problems were
encountered.
1.15 Completed STIS/CCD 9110 (A Search for Kuiper Belt Object Satellites)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to
investigate whether the large number of collisions thought to have taken
place in the primordial Kuiper belt suggest that many Kuiper belt objects
{KBOs} could have suffered binary-forming collisions similar to that which
formed the Pluto — Charon binary. Detection of such KBO satellites would
allow measurement of KBO masses, would help to understand the past
collisional environment of the Kuiper belt, and would give a context to the
otherwise unique-seeming formation of the Pluto — Charon binary. The
proposal completed with no reported problems.
1.16 Completed Two Sets of 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.
1.17 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD/MA1/MA2 9114 (SINS: The Supernova
Intensive Study– Cycle 10)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD, MA1 and MA2) was
used to perform observations of supernova SN2002, a target-of-opportunity
observation. No problems were encountered.
1.18 Completed WF/PC-2 9118 (Tracing the Cosmic Expansion to z>1 with
Type Ia Supernovae)
The WF/PC-2 was used to observe type Ia supernovae in order to 1.19 Completed Eight Sets of WF/PC-2 8941 (Cycle 10 UV Earthflats) The WF/PC-2 was used to monitor flat field stability by obtaining 1.20 Completed STIS/CCD 9312 (POMS Test Proposal: STIS Non-scripted The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to make low 1.21 Completed WF/PC-2 8943 (SM3B Lyman Alpha Check: Pre-SM3B Baseline) The WF/PC-2 was used to provide a pre-SM3B baseline observation 1.22 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 9036 (An Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Survey The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to 1.23 Completed STIS/CCD/MA2 9051 (Identifying Damped Lyman-alpha The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA2) was used to 1.24 Completed WF/PC-2 9319 (POMS Test Proposal: WFII Backup Parallel The WF/PC-2 was used to execute a POMS test proposal, designed to 1.25 Completed STIS/CCD 9280 (X-Ray Imaging of GPS and CSS Quasars) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to conduct 1.26 Completed Eleven Sets of WF/PC-2 9318 (POMS Test Proposal: WFII The WF/PC-2 was used to perform the generic target version of the 1.27 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD 8905 (Read Noise Monitor) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to measure 1.28 Completed STIS/CCD 8907 (Spectroscopic Flats C10) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to obtain 1.29 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 8939 (Cycle 10 Internal Monitor) The WF/PC-2 was used to calibrate the internal monitor, to be run 1.30 Completed S/C 5582 (FOC/48 Monthly Activation (Camera Section This proposal was executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted. 1.31 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 9056 (Spectroscopic Imaging of the The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to 1.32 Completed FOC/96 7923 (FOC F/96 Turn-on) The Faint Object Camera (f/96) was used to take an internal flat 1.33 Completed Three Sets of STIS/MA1/MA2 8920 (Cycle 10 MAMA Dark The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (MA1 and MA2) was used to 1.34 Completed FGS/1 9183 (Completing the Astrometric Orbit for a Pair Fine Guidance Sensor #1 was used to resolve a visual binary that is 1.35 Completed STIS/CCD 9143 (Spectrophotometry of Nearby Seyfert 2 The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to 1.36 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD 9106 (The Biggest Black Holes) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to perform 1.37 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 9179 (Calibrating Convection Efficiency The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to 1.38 Completed STIS/CCD 9088 (Next Generation Spectral Library of Stars) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to produce 1.39 Completed STIS/CCD 8867 (Gamma-Ray Bursts: Discovering The The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to observe 1.40 Completed Three Sets of WF/PC-2 8932 (Decontaminations and The WF/PC-2 was used for the monthly WFPC2 decons. Also included 1.41 Completed STIS/CCD 9117 (Spatially Resolved Spectroscopy of Super The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to obtain 1.42 Completed STIS/CCD 8626 (Spatially Resolved Spectroscopy) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to obtain 1.43 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 9067 (UV Detectability of Bright Quasars in The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to 1.44 Completed STIS/CCD 8589 (Orbital Structure and Black Hole in NGC 3379) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to observe 2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY: 2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions: Scheduled Acquisitions: 41 Successful: 41 Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 51 Successful: 51 2.2 FHST Updates: Scheduled: 101 Successful: 101 2.3 Operations Notes: Using ROP SR-1. the SSR-1 EDAC error counter was cleared eight times. ROP DF-18A was used on three occasions to update the engineering A TTR was written for a “major local network problem” that occurred There was a STIS EMC re-try at 355/230640Z. The STIS flight Real time operations transferred to the GSFC MOR at 356/0300Z due TTRs were written for required re-transmits at 356/0327Z and at ROP SR-9A was used to clear the SSR-3 EDAC error counter at 357/1443Z. Per HSTARs 8438 and 8440, the STIS thermal shelf zone 3B The ephemeris table was uplinked at 359/0007Z per ROP DF-07A. An operations request was followed to perform a GenSlew at 360/1704Z. 3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS: Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.
provide evidence for an accelerating universe. The case for cosmic
acceleration rests almost entirely on the observation that the observed SN
Ia at z~0.5 are 0.25 magnitudes fainter than expected for a
non-accelerating Universe. It is proposed to follow five SN Ia in the
range 0.95
straightforward way to assess the reliability of the SN Ia
measurements. In addition, if SN Ia are reliable standard candles, the
proposed observations will significantly increase the precision with which
Omega_Lambda and Omega_M are measured. There was no reported anomalous
activity.
sequences of earth streak flats to improve the quality of pipeline flat
fields for the WFPC2 UV filter set. The proposal had no problems.
Parallel Proposal Continuation IV)
galactic latitude, non-scripted parallel observations as part of a POMS
test proposal. The observations were completed as planned, and no
anomalies were reported.
against which the post-SM3B measurements can be compared. GRW+70D5824
throughput measurements in UV filters and UV crossed with long-pass filters
{to determine red leak contribution} will be used to indicate any drop in
throughput at Lyman alpha, which could be due to contamination in the
pick-off mirror {or primary/secondary mirror}. The proposal completed with
no problems.
of Star-Forming Galaxies in the Local Universe)
perform a comprehensive STIS ultraviolet spectroscopic survey of
star-forming galaxies in the local universe. The sample covers a broad
range of morphologies, chemical composition, and luminosity. The
observations will provide spectral coverage between 1200 and 3100 Angstrom,
at a resolution of 100 to 200 kms and S/N of about 30. The data set will
allow the proposers to document and quantify the effects of massive stars
on the interstellar medium and to infer implications for the evolution of
the host galaxies. The proposal completed with no problems.
Galaxies at z~1)
look for damped 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
Archive Proposal II)
simulate future scientific plans. The proposal completed without incident.
a survey of GPS and CSS radio-loud quasars, by studying their arcsecond
structure in the X-rays, by searching for X-ray jets, and by searching for
signatures of intermittent AGN activity. The proposal completed nominally.
Parallel Archive Proposal Continuation)
WFPC2 Archival Pure Parallel program. The program was used to take
parallel images of random areas of the sky, following the recommendations
of the Parallels Working Group. There were no problems.
the read noise of all the amplifiers {A, B, C, D} on the STIS CCD using
pairs of bias frames. Full frame and binned observations are made in both
Gain 1 and Gain 4, with binning factors of 1×1, 1×2, 2×1 and 2×2. All
exposures are internals. The proposal completed with no reported anomalies.
CCD flats in the spectrographic mode. There were no reported problems.
weekly to monitor the health of the cameras. No problems were encountered.
Only): Cycle
Atmosphere of Callisto)
obtain long-slit imaging ultraviolet spectra of Callisto, using the G140L
grating, to study the interaction of the Jovian plasma environment with the
tenuous carbon dioxide atmosphere of this icy satellite. The proposal
completed nominally.
and a dark to ensure that the 30-day limit for the FOC is not
exceeded. The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies
were noted.
Measurements)
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.
of Pre-Main Sequence Low-Mass Stars)
part of the closest system of pre-main sequence stars, HD 98800. This
system is 50 pc away and this binary has a period just under a year,
meaning the separation is about 20 milliarcsec. The two stars have similar
brightnesses. The goal is to determine an astrometric orbit which, when
combined with radial velocity observations, leads to the first
dynamically-determined masses for low-mass pre-main sequence stars. All
observations completed normally.
Nuclei: Can We Eliminate the Seyfert 2 Class?)
investigate Seyfert 2s that are distinguished by the absence of the broad
emission lines characteristic of Seyfert 1s and more luminous QSOs. Are
Seyfert 2s fundamentally different from Seyfert 1s and their brighter
cousins? Or is the broad emission line region in Seyfert 2s simply
suppressed by obscuring material as postulated by the unification
model? If the latter model is correct, the weak broad emission lines in
the Seyfert 2s may simply be overwhelmed by starlight from the
circumnuclear region, particularly in the case of recent star
formation. It is proposed to determine if all Seyfert 2s have {weak} broad
emission line regions by obtaining long-slit STIS spectroscopy for a
well-defined sample of 20 Seyfert 2s {3 archival, 17 new}. The
observations completed with no anomalous activity.
searches for supermassive black holes in galaxy centers that have led to
the discoveries that {1} most or all hot galaxies contain massive dark
objects at their centers, presumably black holes; and {2} there is a tight
correlation between the black-hole mass and the luminosity-weighted
velocity dispersion of the hot component of the galaxy. This remarkable
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. There were no reported
problems.
With Quasi-Molecular Features In Magnetic White Dwarfs)
observe recently-discovered quasi-molecular absorption features of Lyman
Alpha in UV spectra of magnetic white dwarfs taken with IUE. Hitherto,
such features have only been known in non-magnetic objects where they
offered a very accurate determination of the atmospheric parameters. There
were no reported problems.
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.
Progenitors And Understanding The Explosion – Visits A0-R0)
a gamma-ray burster, GRB011211. Gamma-ray burst astronomy, one of the most
active and exciting frontiers in astrophysics, is now entering a critical
stage — with dramatic leaps in understanding of these events, as well as
new discoveries. Improvements in triggering and positioning accuracy
provided by the SAX and HETE-2 gamma-ray satellites will allow entirely new
classes of events to be studied. Given the recent progress in this field,
the proposers are now in a position to design precision, broadband
measurements that can provide quantitative information on the as-yet
unknown energy sources, the explosion geometry, and the surrounding
medium. In particular, the growing evidence of an intimate connection
between SNe and GRBs can be definitively tested. The proposal completed
with no reported problems.
Associated Observations Pt. 1/3)
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.
Star Clusters in the M82 Starbursts)
spatially-resolved STIS spectroscopy of 20 clusters in M82’s active
starburst core and also in its “fossil” starburst region {of age >~ 200
Myr} as a means of tracing the history of star formation and its
propagation. With the spatially-resolved spectra, the proposers will be
able to study the internal structure of the clusters, evidence for internal
mass segregation, their interaction with their surroundings {including
M82’s superwind}, and the character of the bright, diffuse non-cluster
populations. No problems were reported.
spatially resolved, high resolution spectra of the z=3.911 BAL quasar,
QSO-083142. All observations completed nominally.
the Sloan Fields)
take MAMA spectra of approximately 30 new, bright, high-redshift quasars in
each of the next three cycles. The observations completed with no reported
problems.
the stellar orbital structure and the mass of the central black hole in NGC
3379. The proposal completed with no reported anomalies.
status buffer limits.
at 355/1809Z. Two LOR playbacks were required to recover science data.
software error counter was reset at 355/2359Z per ROP NS-12.
to numerous CCS problems (HSTAR 8436). Operations returned to the STScI
SIMOR at 356/2300Z.
357/1846Z (during NSSC-1 loads), as well as another at 359/0941Z (during a
486 load). In the first two cases, NS-05 was used to reset SI C&DH errors
and in the third, DF-18A was utilized to update the engineering status
buffer limits.
temperature began breaking its limit intermittently (limit is 28.0 degC –
the violation was 28.1 degC, except for a brief period from 358/000458Z to
358/000658Z when the temperature reached 28.7 degC) at 356/200456Z.
