NASA Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report #4079
HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE – Continuing to collect World Class Science
DAILY REPORT #4079
PERIOD COVERED: UT March 27, 2006 (DOY 086)
OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED
ACS/HRC/WFC 10729
ACS CCDs daily monitor
This program consists of a set of basic tests to monitor, the read noise, the development of hot pixels and test for any source of noise in ACS CCD detectors. The files, biases and dark will be used to create reference files for science calibration. This programme will be for the entire lifetime of ACS. Changes from cycle 13:- The default gain for WFC is 2 e-/DN. As before bias frames will be collected for both gain 1 and gain 2. Dark frames are acquired using the default gain {2}. This program cover the period Oct, 2 2005- May, 29-2006. The second half of the program has a different proposal number: 10758.
ACS/SBC 10507
High resolution imaging of Jupiter’s diffuse auroral emissions inside and outside the main oval during solar
The analysis of HST-STIS FUV images has greatly and quickly advanced our knowledge of the magnetospheric mechanisms producing the auroral emissions on the giant planets. However, these studies were limited to the brightest emissions and very little has been said about the fainter emissions, mainly because of the lower S/N. We propose to image the faint auroral emissions on Jupiter which could not be observed with STIS. We will take full advantage of ACS/SBC’s higher sensitivity to observe the diffuse auroral FUV emissions appearing poleward and directly equatorward of Jupiter’s main auroral oval in the northern hemisphere. This proposal has the potential to reveal new magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling mechanisms especially those involving solar wind interactions with a giant planet.
ACS/WFC 10582
Probing The Galaxy-wide Globular Cluster – Low Mass X-ray Binary Connection in Early-type Galaxies
The combination of high-resolution imaging from Hubble {HST} and Chandra {CXO} has completely revolutionized our understanding of extragalactic low-mass X-ray binaries {LMXBs} and globular clusters {GCs}; however, studies have been limited by short X-ray exposures and relatively small fields. NGC 4697 amd NGC 4365 are relatively simple elliptical galaxies in the X- ray that will have deep CXO observations. We propose ACS observations in six flanking fields per galaxy to provide a study of the GC-LMXB connection in normal early-type galaxies with unprecedented depth, spatial resolution and areal coverage. Combined with existing central field observations, we will detect ~900 and ~2700 GCs GCs in most of NGC 4697 and all of NGC 4365. These two galaxies will have the greatest number of detected GC-LMXBs to date {~70 & 120}. We will measure the fraction of LMXBs found in GCs, and the fraction of GCs which contain LMXBs, as a function of X-ray luminosity, galactocentric distance, color, GC half-light radius, and local GC specific frequency. We will test existing models of GC formation/evolution and LMXB formation/evolution. Using the radial profile of optical light, GCs, and LMXBS, we will determine the percentage of field LMXBs which may have originated in GCs.
ACS/WFC/WFC 10776
HST/ACS Mosaic of M82
A six-pointing ACS WFC mosaic of the galaxy M82 will be obtained in four filters, B, V, I and H- alpha. Four orbits per pointing will allow high-quality S/N images of the entire galaxy.
ACS/WFC/WFPC2 10584
The link between X-ray source and stellar populations in M81
We propose to perform a deep v~26-27.0 HST-ACS survey of the nearby {3.6 Mpc} spiral galaxy M~81 in order to study the nature of its X-ray source populations detected with Chandra. For the first time in a galaxy other than the Milky-Way or the Magelanic Clouds, we will classify X-ray sources as High-Mass and Low-Mass X-ray binaries {HMXBs, LMXBs} and investigate how these populations depend on their galactic environment. The classification will be performed {a} by finding and classifying unique optical counterparts for the X-ray sources and {b} studying the stellar populations in their vicinity. Both tasks require the <0.1'' resolution of HST-ACS which matches well the positional accuracy of Chandra. Finally we will use these results together with X-ray binary evolution synthesis models in order to constrain X-ray binary {XRB} evolution channels. These data will also be a great resource for studies of the star-formation and star- cluster populations in one of the prototypical spiral galaxies.
NIC2 10527
Imaging Scattered Light from Debris Disks Discovered by the Spitzer Space Telescope Around 20 Sun-like Stars
We propose to use the high contrast capability of the NICMOS coronagraph to image a sample of newly discovered circumstellar disks associated with sun-like stars. These systems were identified by their strong thermal infrared emission with the Spitzer Space Telescope as part of the Spitzer Legacy Science program titled, “The Formation and Evolution of Planetary Systems {FEPS}.” Modelling of the thermal excess emission in the form of spectral energy distributions alone cannot distinguish between narrowly confined high opacity disks and broadly distributed, low opacity disks. However, our proposed NICMOS observations can, by imaging the light scattered from this material. Even non- detections will place severe constraints on the disk geometry, ruling out models with high optical depth. Unlike previous disk imaging programs, our program contains a well defined sample of solar mass stars covering a range of ages from ~10Myrs to a few Gyrs, allowing us to study the evolution of disks from primordial to debris for the first time. These results will greatly improve our understanding of debris disks around Sun- like stars at stellar ages nearly 10x older than any previous investigation. Thus we will have fit a crucial piece into the puzzle concerning the formation and evolution of our own solar system.
WFPC2 10748
WFPC2 CYCLE 14 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 10751
WFPC2 CYCLE 14 Intflat Linearity Check and Filter Rotation Anomaly Monitor
Intflat observations will be taken to provide a linearity check: the linearity test consists of a series of intflats in F555W, in each gain and each shutter. A combination of intflats, visflats, and earthflats will be used to check the repeatability of filter wheel motions. {Intflat sequences tied to decons, visits 1-18 in prop 10363, have been moved to the cycle 14 decon proposal 10744 for easier scheduling.} Note: long-exposure WFPC2 intflats must be scheduled during ACS anneals to prevent stray light from the WFPC2 lamps from contaminating long ACS external exposures.
FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:
Significant Spacecraft Anomalies: (The following are preliminary reports of potential non-nominal performance that will be investigated.)
HSTARS:
10183 – GSacq(2,1,2) failed due to search radius limit exceeded @087/0250Z During LOS the GSacq(2,1,2) scheduled at 087/02:50:14 failed due to search radius limit exceeded on FGS 1. The map at 02:57:09 showed errors of V1= 0.45, V2= 5.24, V3= 7.82, RSS= 9.43.
10184 – REacq(2,1,2) failed due to search radius limit exceeded @087/0532z During LOS the REacq(2,1,2) scheduled at 087/05:31:31 failed due to search radius limit exceeded on FGS 2. ESB message a05 – FGS Coarse Track failed – Search Radius Limit exceeded was received. The map at 06:08:22 showed errors of V1=0.09, V2=-1204.19, V3=-42.57, RSS=1204.94.
COMPLETED OPS REQUEST: (None)
COMPLETED OPS NOTES: (None)
SCHEDULED SUCCESSFUL FAILURE TIMES
FGS GSacq 14 13 087/0250z
(HSTAR#10183)
FGS REacq 02 01 087/0532z
(HSTAR#10184)
OBAD with Maneuver 28 28
SIGNIFICANT EVENTS: (None)
