HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE - Continuing to collect World Class
Science
DAILY REPORT #4776
PERIOD COVERED: 5am January 22 - 5am January 23, 2009 (DOY
022/1000z-023/1000z)
OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED
FGS 11963
FGS1r AMA Re-Optimization
This proposal re-optimizes FGS1r interferometric
performance (S-curves)
by adjustment of the instrument's AMA. This will improve
the FGS1r
angular resolution in Transfer Mode while improving the
reliability of
Position Mode observations. Observations of close binaries
(separations
ranging from 12 to 20 mas) and all stars fainter than V=15
will benefit
from this re-optimization. Moreover, this re-optimization
will return
FGS1r to the commissioning state that was deemed optimal
for operating
it as a guider in 1997.
FGS 11964
Post FGS1r AMA-Adjustment: OFAD Check and Alignment
Calibration, 2008
The FGS1 AMA optimization proposal (11963) leaves the AMA
mirror in a
new position, which shifts the FGS1r FOV relative to FGS2r
and FGS3 and
has the potential to change the FGS1r OFAD solution. This
proposal will
use the astrometric open cluster NGC 5617 to check for 1
mas size
changes in the OFAD and to establish the new alignment of
FGS1r relative
to FGS2r and FGS3 to a precision of approximately 25 mas.
The OFAD check
requires 4 HST orbits before, and 4 HST orbits after, the
AMA
adjustment. Each orbit observes the same stars in NGC 5617
with FGS1r in
POS mode. The alignment aspect of this proposal uses data
from these
same orbits. The ICRS positions of the relevant stars are
taken from the
UCAC catalog, but the proper motions taken from the
"special guide star
plate ZZZT" provided by Yale University.
We chose guide stars in FGS2r
and FGS3, and astrometry targets that are common to GSC2,
UCAC, and
ZZZT. Each visit uses a unique guide star pair, so that
all the visits
taken together have guide stars spanning the guider FGSs
FOV.
WFPC2 11944
Binaries at the Extremes of the H-R Diagram
We propose to use HST/Fine Guidance Sensor 1r to survey
for binaries
among some of the most massive, least massive, and oldest
stars in our
part of the Galaxy. FGS allows us to spatially resolve
binary systems
that are too faint to observe using ground-based, speckle
or optical
long baseline interferometry, and too close to resolve
with AO. We
propose a SNAP-style program of single orbit FGS TRANS
mode observations
of very massive stars in the cluster NGC 3603, luminous
blue variables,
nearby low mass main sequence stars, cool subdwarf stars,
and white
dwarfs. These observations will help us to (1) identify
systems suitable
for follow up studies for mass determination, (2) study
the role of
binaries in stellar birth and in advanced evolutionary
states, (3)
explore the fundamental properties of stars near the main
sequence-brown
dwarf boundary, (4) understand the role of binaries for
X-ray bright
systems, (5) find binaries among ancient and nearby
subdwarf stars, and
(6) help calibrate the white dwarf mass - radius relation.
WFPC2 11956
Hubble Heritage: Side B
We propose a program of 39 orbits to observe 6 targets
with WFPC2
following a successful return to science using side B
electronics. These
observations will be used for Hubble Heritage releases in
the months
leading up to servicing mission 4. Because of launch
delays, our reserve
of releasable images is growing dangerously slim. We are
proposing here
to replenish one of our important lines of communication
with the
public.
We have carefully chosen targets that can efficiently use
single
pointings of WFPC2 to obtain images of visually striking
and
astrophysically interesting targets. Observations will
reach high S/N
and will be dithered and subsampled to improve the
resolution and pixel
scale to near ACS/WFC3 quality at a modest cost in
exposure time. Most
of the observations will schedule in the interim between a
return to
science and the availability of new science proposals that
may be
selected in response to an interim call for proposals.
WFPC2 11969
Satellite Search for Dawn Mission Targets, Vesta and Ceres
We propose to carry out a dedicated satellite search
program for
asteroids Vesta and Ceres. Despite being the two largest
asteroids, and
having clear evidence of a violent collisional history for
Vesta, Vesta
and Ceres do not have any satellites found so far, neither
have there
been any dedicated satellite search program for them
reported. We
propose to take short and long exposure mosaics to cover
the whole Hill
sphere while using specific observing strategies and image
processing
techniques to search in close to the center body. In
addition to its
significant scientific merit, this proposed project will
be important
for the planning of NASA's Dawn mission. Currently Ceres
is moving close
to the Earth, making it more difficult to cover the whole
stability
region of satellites with minimal HST orbit requirement.
Similar
geometry will not repeat until the second half of 2009.
Therefore we
request DD time.
FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:
Significant Spacecraft Anomalies: (The following are
preliminary reports
of potential non-nominal performance that will be
investigated.)
HSTARS: (None)
COMPLETED OPS REQUEST: (None)
COMPLETED OPS NOTES: (None)
SCHEDULED
SUCCESSFUL
FGS
GSacq
09
09
FGS REacq
01
01
OBAD with Maneuver
24
24
SIGNIFICANT EVENTS:
Flash Report:
The FGS1R AMA move and associated change of the Coarse
Mode Angle check
threshold was completed at 2009.022/13:17 UTC.