NASA Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report # 3366
HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE
DAILY REPORT # 3366
PERIOD COVERED: DOY 139
OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED
STIS/CCD/MA1 9067
UV Detectability of Bright Quasars in the Sloan Fields.
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to take
MAMA
spectra of approximately 30 new, bright, high-redshift quasars in each of
the
next three cycles.
STIS 9339
Physical Parameters of the Erupting Luminous Blue Variable NGC 2363-V1
In 1996, we reported the discovery of a bright variable star in the giant
extragalactic H , ii region NGC 2363. Subsequent photometry and high
quality
HST/STIS spectroscopy of this star, NGC 2363-V1, revealed that we are
witnessing
a significant event in the evolution of a massive star, namely a major
eruption
of a Luminous Blue Variable {LBV}. A quantitative analysis of the STIS
datasets
gathered in 1997 and 1999 allowed us to determine the luminosity, mass
loss
rate, wind terminal velocity, surface temperature and even Fe content of
this
erupting LBV. Because such events are rare, continuous monitoring of the
physical parameters of NGC 2363- V1 over the course of its present
eruption
will
provide an invaluable set of constraints for theoretical models. We
therefore
propose to obtain high quality STIS spectra of this star once a year for
the
next three observing Cycles.
ACS 9420
Intensive Coverage of the Eta Carinae Event in 2003
For a variety of reasons, HST can provide a very special and unique data
set
when Eta Car experiences its next spectroscopic event in mid-2003.
Explaining
the phenomenon is only part of the motivation. This star and its ejecta
have
unique characteristics that make them important for several branches of
astrophysics; and when a spectroscopic event occurs, it’s like varying
the
parameters in an experiment {or rather, set of experiments}. The 2003
event
will
be the last chance in the forseeable future to obtain such a data set.
Eta
Carinae has extreme parameters; it is mysterious in surprisingly basic
ways; and
HST/STIS can gather useful data on it at a terrific rate. As we explain
below,
the proposed data set will be valuable in several independent ways: It
will
help
solve a specific set of current problems, it will constitute a large and
unique
archival data base for both stellar and nebular astrophysics, and it will
be
well-suited for educational uses.
ACS 9472
A Snapshot Survey for Gravitational Lenses among z >= 4.0 Quasars
Over the last few years, the Sloan Digital Sky Survey has revolutionized
the
study of high-redshift quasars by discovering over 200 objects with
redshift
greater than 4.0, more than doubling the number known in this redshift
interval.
The sample includes eight of the ten highest redshift quasars known. We
propose
a snapshot imaging survey of a well-defined sample of 250 z > 4.0 quasars
in
order to find objects which are gravitationally lensed. Lensing models
including
magnification bias predict that at least 4% of quasars in a flux-limited
sample
at z > 4 will be multiply lensed. Therefore this survey should find of
order 10
lensed quasars at high redshift; only one gravitationally lensed quasar
is
currently known at z > 4. This survey will provide by far the best sample
to
date of high-redshift gravitational lenses. The observed fraction of
lenses can
put strong constraints on cosmological models, in particular on the
cosmological
constant Lambda. In addition, magnification bias can significantly bias
estimates of the luminosity function of quasars and the evolution
thereof; this
work will constrain how important an effect this is, and thereby give us
a
better understanding of the evolution of quasars and black holes at early
epochs, as well as constrain models for black hole formation.
ACS 9482
ACS Pure Parallel Lyman-Alpha Emission Survey {APPLES}
Ly-alpha line emission is an efficient tool for identifying young
galaxies at
high redshift, because it is strong in galaxies with young stars and
little or
no dust — properties expected in galaxies undergoing their first burst
of
star- formation. Slitless spectroscopy with the ACS Wide-Field Camera and
G800L
grism allows an unmatched search efficiency for such objects over the
uninterrupted range 4 <~ z <~ 7. We propose the ACS Pure Parallel
Ly-alpha
Emission Survey {“APPLES”}, to exploit this unique HST capability and
so
obtain the largest and most uniform sample of high redshift Ly-alpha
emitters
yet. Parallel observations will allow this survey to be conducted with
minimal
impact on HST resources, and we will place reduced images and extracted
spectra
in the public domain within three months of observation. We aim to find ~
1000
Ly-alpha emitters, 5 times the biggest current sample of Ly-alpha
emitters.
This
unprecedented sample will provide robust statistics on the populations
and
evolution of Ly-alpha emitters between redshifts 4–7; a robust
measurement of
the reionization redshift completely independent of the Gunn-Peterson
trough;
spatial clustering information for Ly-alpha emitters which would let us
probe
their bias function and hence halo mass as a function of redshift; many
galaxies
at redshift exceeding 6; and lower redshift serendipitous discoveries.
WFPC2 9592
WFPC2 CYCLE 11 Standard Darks
This dark calibration program obtains 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.
WFPC2 9594
WFPC2 CYCLE 11 SUPPLEMENTAL DARKS pt2/3
This dark calibration program obtains 3 dark frames every day to provide
data
for monitoring and characterizing the evolution of hot pixels
WFPC2 9596
WFPC2 CYCLE 11 INTERNAL MONITOR
This calibration proposal is the Cycle 11 routine internal monitor for
WFPC2, to
be run weekly to monitor the health of the cameras. A variety of internal
exposures are obtained in order to provide a monitor of the integrity of
the CCD
camera electronics in both bays {gain 7 and gain 15}, a test for quantum
efficiency in the CCDs, and a monitor for possible buildup of
contaminants on
the CCD windows.
STIS 9606
CCD Dark Monitor-Part 2
Monitor the darks for the STIS CCD.
STIS 9608
CCD Bias Monitor – Part 2
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.
ACS 9650
CCD Hot Pixel Annealing
Hot pixel annealing will be performed once every 4 weeks. The CCD TECs
will be
turned off and heaters will be activated to bring the WFC detector
temperature
to about +10C. The HRC temperature will reach about 30C.This state will
be held
for approximately 24 hours, after which the heaters are turned off, the
TECs
turned on, and the CCDs returned to normal operating condition. To assess
the
effectiveness of this procedure, a bias and two dark images will be taken
before
and after the annealing procedure for both WFC and HRC.
ACS 9674
CCD Daily Monitor
This program consists of basic tests to monitor, the read noise, the
development
of hot pixels and test for any source of noise in ACS CCD detectors. This
programme will be executed once a day for the entire lifetime of ACS.
WFPC2 9709
POMS Test Proposal: WFII parallel archive proposal
This is the 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 2002 Parallels Working Group.
WFPC2 9710
POMS Test Proposal: WFII backup parallel archive proposal
This is a POMS test proposal designed to simulate scientific plans.
FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:
Significant Spacecraft Anomalies: (The following are preliminary reports
of
potential non-nominal performance that will be investigated.)
HSTAR 9037: SSR 3 command error during execution of WFPC2 Observation 23
re-dump
@ 139/22:26:49Z. SRRXMT procedure was started @
139/22:26:12Z and completed
@ 139/22:26:49Z. It was noted, after the fact, a
science observation record
was being commanded via SPC @ 139/22:26:14Z which
was suspected as causing
the SSR command error. SSRXMT was executed a
second
time, starting @ 139/22:27:42Z
and ending @ 139/22:28:26Z. A second SSR command
error was received
@ 139/22:28:25Z (no apparent command collision was
found in the SPC). A
SRCLR 3 4 was executed @ 139/22:33:11Z and another
SSRXMT procedure was executed
@ 139/22:33:01Z without incident. PACOR-A
reported
successful receipt of second
and third re-dumps. Under investigation.
COMPLETED OPS REQs: None
OPS NOTES EXECUTED:
1102-4 – Adjust ACS Error Count Limit @ 139/1140z
SCHEDULED SUCCESSFUL FAILURE TIMES
FGS
GSacq 7 7
FGS REacq 11 11
FHST Update 12 12
LOSS of LOCK
SIGNIFICANT EVENTS:
Successfully completed SM-4 IPA-1 Hazardous Command Test, Dry Run #2
139/11:00Z – 17:05Z.
Response Team completed Section 2.1 which involved moving one Hazardous
Command group
from the FEP portion of CCS and re-cycling the string, initiating a
command
from that
group and ensuring the command portion of CCS captured the command as
hazardous
(successfully captured). Response Team put the Hazardous Command group
back into
the FEP portion and took the group out of the Command portion of CCS,
re-cycled the
string and re-initiated the command. The FEP portion flagged the command
as hazardous.
The group was put back into the command portion and a third string
re-cycle
was performed.
Remainder of the test took place without incident.
