Hubble Space Telescope Report #2652 06/26/00
HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE
DAILY REPORT #2652
PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 06/23/00 – 0000Z (UTC) 06/26/00
Daily Status Report as of 178/0000Z
1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:
1.1 Completed Three Sets of STIS/CCD 8439 (Bias Monitor-Part 2 C8)
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 reported problems.
1.2 Completed Six Sets of STIS/CCD 8437 (Dark Monitor-Part 2 C8)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to monitor the darks. The proposal completed nominally.
1.3 Completed Three Sets of STIS/CCD/MA1/MA2 8265 (Reverberation Mapping of a Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 Galaxy)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD, MA1 and MA2) was used to monitor the UV spectral variability of the narrow-line Seyfert 1 {NLS1} galaxy AKN 564 at 46 epochs in order to measure the size of the broad emission-line region via reverberation-mapping techniques. This measurement, and the virial mass estimate that follows from it, will provide a key test of NLS1 models and help determine the physical mechanism that underlies the principal component of AGN spectra, the Boroson–Green primary eigenvector. These observations will be undertaken in parallel with X-ray and ground-based optical observations that will allow us for the first time to explore the multiwavelength variability characteristics of this important subclass of active galactic nuclei. The observations completed with no reported problems.
1.4 Completed Eight Sets of WF/PC-2 8805 (POMS Test Proposal: WFII Parallel Archive Proposal Continuation)
The WF/PC-2 was used to perform a generic target version of the WFPC2 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. The proposal completed with no reported problems.
1.5 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD 8640 (A Public STIS Survey of the Host Galaxies of Gamma-Ray Bursts)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to obtain high-resolution images of the fields containing gamma-ray burst with well-localized coordinates; i.e. the burst has been localized to within approximately one arcsecond. The goal of this survey is to obtain a uniform sample of images of the host galaxies of these bursts. There were no reported problems.
1.6 Completed WF/PC-2 8544 (POMS Test Proposal: WFII Backup Parallel Archive Proposal II)
The WF/PC-2 was used to execute a POMS test proposal that was designed to simulate scientific plans. No problems were encountered.
1.7 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 8654 (Confirmation of Black Hole, Planetary, and Binary Microlensing Events)
The WF/PC-2 was used to take images of five MACHO Project microlensing events in order to confirm our microlensing models which indicate that these events were caused by black holes and stars with extra-solar planets. The proposal completed nominally.
1.8 Completed Seven Sets of STIS/CCD 8808 (POMS Test Proposal: STIS Non-Scripted Parallel Proposal Continuation III)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to make non-scripted, parallel observations as part of a POMS test proposal. The observations completed with no anomalous activity.
1.9 Completed STIS/CCD 8340 (Probing the Kinematics of the Narrow-Line Region in Seyfert Galaxies with Slitless Spectroscopy)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to perform studies of the gas kinematics of the narrow-line regions in Seyfert galaxies. Previous studies indicate complex velocity fields, with evidence for both gravitational and non-gravitational forces. The proposal completed nominally.
1.10 Completed 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.
1.11 Completed STIS/MA1 8426 (Cycle 8 MAMA Dark Measurements)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (MA1) was used to make a routine Cycle-8 MAMA dark noise calibration measurement. This proposal will provide the primary means of checking on the health of the MAMA detectors. This is done through frequent monitoring of the background count rate. The observations were completed as planned, and no problems were reported.
1.12 Completed WF/PC-2 8707 (A Study of Star Formation in Galactic Resonance Rings)
The WF/PC-2 was used to observe rings of star formation which are a common phenomenon of early-type spiral galaxies. Most rings form by gas cloud collisions near resonances, under the continuous action of gravity torques from a bar perturbation, while a small number form in response to a mild tidal interaction with a nearby companion. In either case, a resonance is a very special place in any galaxy where star formation can be enhanced and may proceed either as a starburst or continuously over a long time period. Resonance rings are natural dynamical laboratories for star cluster formation and evolution. The observation completed normally with no reported problems.
1.13 Completed Three Sets of WF/PC-2 8461 (Cycle 8 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 nominally.
1.14 Completed Two Sets of STIS/MA1/MA2 8144 (UV Spectroscopic Snapshots of FUSE AGN Targets)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD, MA1 and MA2) was used to make far ultraviolet spectrographic snapshot observations of the FUSE AGN targets MRK506 and 4C+34.47. These objects are currently scheduled to be observed by the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer {FUSE}. The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted.
1.15 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 8773 (Expansion Parallax Distances to Planetary Nebulae)
The WF/PC-2 was used to observe planetary nebulae {PNe} for which the lack of reliable distances is especially troubling. Acquired by generalized statistical methods in all but a handful of cases, individual PNe distances are often uncertain by factors of two or more. The observations completed nominally.
1.16 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD 8260 (Searching for the Hydrogen Reionization Edge of the Universe at 5HST)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to observe one of 36 parallel orbits {4–5 fields of 5–8 orbits each} to constrain the H Lyman-edge in emission that marks the transition from a neutral to a fully ionized IGM at a predicted zion~eq5–15. This edge is due to recombination from the H Lyman series and Lyman continuum, and can be used to constrain zion, one of the most important unknown quantities in large scale structure and cosmology. The proposal completed nominally.
1.17 Completed STIS/CCD 8647 (Black Hole Accretion Outbursts In Soft X- Ray Transients)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to make UV observations of soft X-ray transient {SXT} XTE-J1118. This is part of an extensive multiwavelength target of opportunity campaign to monitor newly discovered SXTs in outburst and throughout the subsequent decline. Recent work establishes that a high proportion of SXTs harbor black holes, so these observations provide an unrivalled opportunity to obtain high quality data from an accreting black hole. UV data is a keystone of this multiwavelength campaign because the disk regions of interest radiate predominantly in the UV. Emission lines will give the ability to probe the kinematics of the inner disk region. The relative strengths of the reprocessed X-ray flux emitted in the UV will be examined, and the UV flux generated by viscous heating in the accretion flow. Multiwavelength observations will probe the physics of the accretion flow throughout the outburst. The observations will yield detailed quantitative tests of the models for SXT outbursts. The new STIS/MAMA capability to perform UV spectroscopy with 125 microsecond time resolution will be exploited. A proven HST/RXTE echo-mapping experiment will measure the size of the reprocessing regions in the accretion disk, and thus probe morphology changes as the decline proceeds. It is unknown what rapid UV variability may be found. Recent RXTE discoveries suggest this may prove a rich source of information on the dynamics close to the event horizon. The observations completed with no reported problems.
1.18 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1/MA2 8244 (Probing Stellar Ejecta in SN 1006 through UV Absorption Spectroscopy)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD, MA1 and MA2) was used to investigate the remnant of SN 1006 which provides a unique opportunity to study ejecta from a Type Ia supernova through UV absorption spectroscopy. Absorption lines in the spectrum of the background Schweizer-Middleditch star have revealed the presence of cold Fe and Si with velocities up to 7000kms. These lines surely are due to ejecta, but extrapolation from a single line of sight to the entire remnant suggests a mass of Fe less than half the ~ 0.5: Msun expected from a Type Ia supernova. A reliable inventory of the ejecta requires several such “core samples” through the remnant, but until now no other suitable background UV sources had been identified. The observations completed nominally.
1.19 WF/PC-2/STIS/CCD 8690 (The Central Region of NGC4696:
Manifestation of the Physics of Mergers?)
The WF/PC-2 and the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) were used to observe massive, dominant ellipticals with attendant emission-line gas, dust and hot, heavy X–ray emitting coronae which lie at the very centers of galaxy clusters. The physics of these complex, high pressure regions remains controversial: Are cooling flows responsible? Do mergers dominate, with massive accretion events triggering an array of
phenomena? Is the AGN crucial? A major impetus to understanding the physics of these regions will come with Chandra. NGC4696 in the Centaurus galaxy cluster is archetypal. WFPC2 images have shown a dramatic bifurcation between gas and dust. T he nucleus itself is seen to be a compact triple, with two blue components straddling a third red one. We propose to obtain STIS long- slit spectra along a line-emission filament and along a dust filament: The proposal completed with no reported problems.
1.20 Completed WF/PC-2 8390 (Expansion Parallax Distances to Planetary Nebulae)
The WF/PC-2 was used to make observations of the planetary nebula NGC5882 in order to study its parallax distance. The largest impediment to our understanding of planetary nebulae is the lack of reliable
distances. The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted.
1.21 Completed WF/PC-2 8645 (A Survey of Mid-UV Morphology of Nearby Galaxies: Galaxy Structure and Faint Galaxy)
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. The observations completed nominally.
1.22 Completed FGS 8616 (Masses of Pre-Main Sequence Binaries)
The Fine Guidance Sensors were used to continue mapping the orbits of young star binaries in the Taurus and Ophiuchus star forming regions. Our goal is to measure their masses dynamically. This is important because there are still no low mass young stars with reliably known masses so calculations of their evolution to the main sequence are uncalibrated. There were no reported problems.
1.23 Completed STIS/CCD 8648 (SINS: The Supernova Intensive Study– Cycle 9)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to observe supernovae which explode to create the chemical history of the Universe and energize the interstellar gas. The proposal completed with no reported problems.
1.24 Completed STIS/MA2 8275 (Ultraviolet Snapshots of 3CR Radio Source Counterparts at Low Z)
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (MA2) was used to make ultraviolet snapshot observations of the radio galaxy 3C405.0. Radio galaxies are an important class of extragalactic objects, representing one of the most energetic astrophysical phenomena, while extraordinarily useful as probes of their environments and of the early Universe. The observations were completed as scheduled, and no anomalies were reported.
2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:
2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:
Scheduled Acquisitions: 26
Successful: 26
Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 18
Successful: 18
2.2 FHST Updates:
Scheduled: 57
Successful: 57
2.3 Operations Notes:
The SSR EDAC error counter was cleared once per ROP SR-1A.
A TTR was written when no MA forward was received at the HST. This occurred at 177/0920Z.
SI C&DH errors were reset at 176/1257Z and at 177/1116Z as directed by ROP NS-5.
Using ROP IC-2, SSA transmitter #1 was turned on and off at 176/2224Z.
There was a STIS MCE-2 reset at 177/111315Z while the low voltage was on and while in an SAA interval. The STIS flight software error counter was reset at 177/1115Z per ROP NS-12. MAMA-2 was recovered at 177/2136Z via SMS commanding.
Per an operations request, the AER was configured at 178/0004Z to avoid a data gap.
A STIS MCE-1 reset occurred at 178/065903Z while outside any SAA interval and while the low voltage was on. The STIS flight software error counter was reset at 178/0920Z per ROP NS-12. MAMA-1 will be recovered at 178/1834Z, the time of the next high voltage commanding via the SMS.
3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:
Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.
