Status Report

NASA Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report # 4628

By SpaceRef Editor
June 13, 2008
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NASA Hubble Space Telescope Daily Report # 4628
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HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE DAILY REPORT # 4628

Continuing to collect World Class Science

PERIOD COVERED: 5am June 09 – 5am June 10, 2008 (DOY161/0900z-162/0900z)

OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED

WFPC2 10583

Resolving the LMC Microlensing Puzzle: Where Are the Lensing Objects?

We are requesting 32 HST orbits to help ascertain the nature of the population that gives rise to the observed set of microlensing events towards the LMC. The SuperMACHO project is an ongoing ground-based survey on the CTIO 4m that has demonstrated the ability to detect LMC microlensing events in real-time via frame subtraction. The improvement in angular resolution and photometric accuracy available from HST will allow us to 1} confirm that the detected flux excursions arise from LMC source stars rather than extended objects {such as for background supernovae or AGN}, and 2} obtain reliable baseline flux measurements for the objects in their unlensed state. The latter measurement is important to resolve degeneracies between the event timescale and baseline flux, which will yield a tighter constraint on the microlensing optical depth.

WFPC2 11024

WFPC2 CYCLE 15 INTERNAL MONITOR

This calibration proposal is the Cycle 15 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 {both gain 7 and gain 15 — to test stability of gains and bias levels}, a test for quantum efficiency in the CCDs, and a monitor for possible buildup of contaminants on the CCD windows. These also provide raw data for generating annual super-bias reference files for the calibration pipeline.

FGS 11212

Filling the Period Gap for Massive Binaries

The current census of binaries among the massive O-type stars is seriously incomplete for systems in the period range from years to millennia because the radial velocity variations are too small and the angular separations too close for easy detection. Here we propose to discover binaries in this observational gap through a Faint Guidance Sensor SNAP survey of relatively bright targets listed in the Galactic O Star Catalog. Our primary goal is to determine the binary frequency among those in the cluster/association, field, and runaway groups. The results will help us assess the role of binaries in massive star formation and in the processes that lead to the ejection of massive stars from their natal clusters. The program will also lead to the identification of new, close binaries that will be targets of long term spectroscopic and high angular resolution observations to determine their masses and distances. The results will also be important for the interpretation of the spectra of suspected and newly identified binary and multiple systems.

NIC1/NIC2 11155

Dust Grain Evolution in Herbig Ae Stars: NICMOS Coronagraphic Imaging and Polarimetry

We propose to take advantage of the sensitive coronagraphic capabilities of NICMOS to obtain multiwavelength coronagraphic imaging and polarimetry of primordial dust disks around young intermediate-mass stars {Herbig Ae stars}, in order to advance our understanding of how dust grains are assembled into larger bodies. Because the polarization of scattered light is strongly dependent on scattering particle size and composition, coronagraphic imaging polarimetry with NICMOS provides a uniquely powerful tool for measuring grain properties in spatially resolved circumstellar disks. It is widely believed that planets form via the gradual accretion of planetesimals in gas-rich, dusty circumstellar disks, but the connection between this suspected process and the circumstellar disks that we can now observe around other stars remains very uncertain. Our proposed observations, together with powerful 3-D radiative transfer codes, will enable us to quantitatively determine dust grain properties as a function of location within disks, and thus to test whether dust grains around young stars are in fact growing in size during the putative planet-formation epoch. HST imaging polarimetry of Herbig Ae stars will complement and extend existing polarimetric studies of disks around lower-mass T Tauri stars and debris disks around older main-sequence stars. When combined with these previous studies, the proposed research will help us establish the influence of stellar mass on the growth of dust grains into larger planetesimals, and ultimately to planets. Our results will also let us calibrate models of the thermal emission from these disks, a critical need for validating the properties of more distant disks inferred on the basis of spectral information alone.

NIC1/NIC2/NIC3 8795

NICMOS Post-SAA Calibration – CR Persistence Part 6

A new procedure proposed to alleviate the CR-persistence problem of NICMOS. Dark frames will be obtained immediately upon exiting the SAA contour 23, and every time a NICMOS exposure is scheduled within 50 minutes of coming out of the SAA. The darks will be obtained in parallel in all three NICMOS Cameras. The POST-SAA darks will be non-standard reference files available to users with a USEAFTER date/time mark. The keyword ‘USEAFTER=date/time’ will also be added to the header of each POST-SAA DARK frame. The keyword must be populated with the time, in addition to the date, because HST crosses the SAA ~8 times per day so each POST-SAA DARK will need to have the appropriate time specified, for users to identify the ones they need. Both the raw and processed images will be archived as POST-SAA DARKSs. Generally we expect that all NICMOS science/calibration observations started within 50 minutes of leaving an SAA will need such maps to remove the CR persistence from the science images. Each observation will need its own CRMAP, as different SAA passages leave different imprints on the NICMOS detectors.

NIC2 11219

Active Galactic Nuclei in Nearby Galaxies: a New View of the Origin of the Radio-loud Radio- quiet Dichotomy?

Using archival HST and Chandra observations of 34 nearby early-type galaxies {drawn from a complete radio selected sample} we have found evidence that the radio-loud/radio-quiet dichotomy is directly connected to the structure of the inner regions of their host galaxies in the following sense: [1] Radio-loud AGN are associated with galaxies with shallow cores in their light profiles [2] Radio-quiet AGN are only hosted by galaxies with steep cusps. Since the brightness profile is determined by the galaxy’s evolution, through its merger history, our results suggest that the same process sets the AGN flavour. This provides us with a novel tool to explore the co-evolution of galaxies and supermassive black holes, and it opens a new path to understand the origin of the radio-loud/radio-quiet AGN dichotomy. Currently our analysis is statistically incomplete as the brightness profile is not available for 82 of the 116 targets. Most galaxies were not observed with HST, while in some cases the study is obstructed by the presence of dust features. We here propose to perform an infrared NICMOS snapshot survey of these 82 galaxies. This will enable us to i} test the reality of the dichotomic behaviour in a substantially larger sample; ii} extend the comparison between radio-loud and radio-quiet AGN to a larger range of luminosities.

WFPC2 11070

WFPC2 CYCLE 15 Standard Darks – part II

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 11113

Binaries in the Kuiper Belt: Probes of Solar System Formation and Evolution

The discovery of binaries in the Kuiper Belt and related small body populations is powering a revolutionary step forward in the study of this remote region. Three quarters of the known binaries in the Kuiper Belt have been discovered with HST, most by our snapshot surveys. The statistics derived from this work are beginning to yield surprising and unexpected results. We have found a strong concentration of binaries among low-inclination Classicals, a possible size cutoff to binaries among the Centaurs, an apparent preference for nearly equal mass binaries, and a strong increase in the number of binaries at small separations. We propose to continue this successful program in Cycle 16; we expect to discover at least 13 new binary systems, targeted to subgroups where these discoveries can have the greatest impact.

WFPC2 11130

AGNs with Intermediate-mass Black Holes: Testing the Black Hole-Bulge Paradigm, Part II

The recent progress in the study of central black holes in galactic nuclei has led to a general consensus that supermassive {10^6-10^9 solar mass} black holes are closely connected with the formation and evolutionary history of large galaxies, especially their bulge component. Two outstanding issues, however, remain unresolved. Can central black holes form in the absence of a bulge? And does the mass function of central black holes extend below 10^6 solar masses? Intermediate-mass black holes {<10^6 solar masses}, if they exist, may offer important clues to the nature of the seeds of supermassive black holes. Using the SDSS, our group has successfully uncovered a new population of AGNs with intermediate-mass black holes that reside in low-luminosity galaxies. However, very little is known about the detailed morphologies or structural parameters of the host galaxies themselves, including the crucial question of whether they have bulges or not. Surprisingly, the majority of the targets of our Cycle 14 pilot program have structural properties similar to dwarf elliptical galaxies. The statistics from this initial study, however, are really too sparse to reach definitive conclusions on this important new class of black holes. We wish to extend this study to a larger sample, by using the Snapshot mode to obtain WFPC2 F814W images from a parent sample of 175 AGNs with intermediate- mass black holes selected from our final SDSS search. We are particularly keen to determine whether the hosts contain bulges, and if so, how the fundamental plane properties of the host depend on the mass of their central black holes. We will also investigate the environment of this unique class of AGNs.

WFPC2 11227

The Orbital Period for an Ultraluminous X-ray Source in NGC1313

The ultraluminous X-ray sources {ULXs} are extragalactic point sources with luminosities that exceed the Eddington luminosity for conventional stellar-mass black holes by factors of 10 – 100. It has been hotly debated whether the ULXs are just common stellar-mass black hole sources with beamed emission or whether they are sub-Eddington sources that are powered by the long-sought intermediate mass black holes {IMBH}. To firmly decide this question, one must obtain dynamical mass measurements through photometric and spectroscopic monitoring of the secondaries of these system. The crucial first step is to establish the orbital period of a ULX, and arguably the best way to achieve this goal is by monitoring its ellipsoidal light curve. The extreme ULX NGC1313 X-2 provides an outstanding target for an orbital period determination because its relatively bright optical counterpart {V = 23.5} showed a 15% variation between two HST observations separated by three months. This level of variability is consistent with that expected for a tidally distorted secondary star. Here we propose a set of 20 imaging observations with HST/WFPC2 to define the orbital period. This would be the first photometric measurement of the orbital period of a ULX binary. Subsequently, we will propose to obtain spectroscopic observations to obtain its radial velocity amplitude and thereby a dynamical estimate of its mass.

WFPC2 11342

X-ray Jets Activity in the Symbiotic System CH Cyg

We propose follow up Chandra/HST/VLA observations of the recently discovered X-ray jets in the nearby symbiotic system CH Cyg. CH Cyg is only the second symbiotic systems with jet activity detected at X-ray wavelengths. Symbiotic systems are fascinating accreting binaries with a key evolutionary importance since they are potential progenitors of bipolar PN and SN type Ia. The HST/WFPC2 observations, combined with Chandra and VLA imaging, will provide the closest view of the region where jets form and interact with the surrounding material. The observations will provide a key information on the spatial, spectral and temporal characteristics of the jets, crucial inputs and quantitative constraints to models of non-relativistic jets.

WFPC2 11553

HST Imaging of the Luminous Transient in NGC 300

A luminous optical transient discovered in the nearby (~2.2 Mpc) Sculptor Group spiral NGC 300 in May 2008 appears to be a new member of the V838 Monocerotis class of stars that expand in a few weeks to become red supergiants. Spectroscopic observations show that the NGC 300 OT is categorically not a classical nova, supernova, or luminous blue variable. At an absolute magnitude of -12.5, it is by far the brightest star at present in NGC 300, but if it follows the pattern of V838 Mon and the similar object M31 RV, it will fade away rapidly in about 3 months.

Before it fades, we propose to obtain WFPC2 images in order to locate the position of the object to within a few milliarcsec. This will allow us to identify the progenitor object, based on a superb set of pre-outburst ACS and WFPC2 images of NGC 300 available in the archive. We also propose a second observation in September 2008, in order to search for emergence of a light echo similar to the spectacular one that surrounds V838 Mon. If a light echo does appear, follow-up ACS polarimetry after SM4 offers the possibility of a direct geometric distance determination, allowing a fundamental calibration of the rich variety of standard candles that exist in NGC 300 (Cepheids, red-giant tip, planetary nebulae, etc.).

FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

Significant Spacecraft Anomalies: (The following are preliminary reports of potential non-nominal performance that will be investigated.)

HSTARS:

11332 – GSACQ(1,2,2) failed, scan step limit exceeded on FGS 1

GSACQ(1,2,2) at 162/05:23:04 failed due to scan step limit exceeded on FGS 1. Vehicle was LOS at time of failure, #44 commands did not update from their values prior to LOS. QF1SSLEX, QSTOPF, QSTEPEXC and QSTOP flags were set at AOS, no 486 ESB messages were received,

REACQ(1,2,2) at 06:58:55 was successful.

Observations affected: NICMOS 11, WFPC 74 to 76, proposal 11142.

COMPLETED OPS REQUEST: (None)

COMPLETED OPS NOTES: (None)

                         SCHEDULED      SUCCESSFUL

FGS GSacq                08                 07
FGS REacq                07                 07
OBAD with Maneuver       15                 15

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS: (None)

SpaceRef staff editor.