HUBBLE
SPACE TELESCOPE - Continuing to collect World Class Science
DAILY
REPORT # 4541
PERIOD
COVERED: UT February 05, 2007 (DOY 036)
OBSERVATIONS
SCHEDULED
ACS/SBC
10862
Comprehensive
Auroral Imaging of Jupiter and Saturn during the
International
Heliophysical Year
A
comprehensive set of observations of the auroral emissions from
Jupiter
and Saturn is proposed for the International Heliophysical Year
in
2007, a unique period of especially concentrated measurements of
space
physics phenomena throughout the solar system. We propose to
determine
the physical relationship of the various auroral processes at
Jupiter
and Saturn with conditions in the solar wind at each planet.
This
can be accomplished with campaigns of observations, with a sampling
interval
not to exceed one day, covering at least one solar rotation.
The
solar wind plasma density approaching Jupiter will be measured by
the
New Horizons spacecraft, and a separate campaign near opposition in
May
2007 will determine the effect of large-scale variations in the
interplanetary
magnetic field {IMF} on the Jovian aurora by
extrapolation
from near-Earth solar wind measurements. A similar Saturn
campaign
near opposition in Jan. 2007 will combine extrapolated solar
wind
data with measurements from a wide range of locations within the
Saturn
magnetosphere by Cassini. In the course of making these
observations,
it will be possible to fully map the auroral footprints of
Io
and the other satellites to determine both the local magnetic field
geometry
and the controlling factors in the electromagnetic interaction
of
each satellite with the corotating magnetic field and plasma density.
Also
in the course of making these observations, the auroral emission
properties
will be compared with the properties of the near-IR
ionospheric
emissions {from ground-based observations} and non thermal
radio
emissions, from ground-based observations for Jupiter's decametric
radiation
and Cassini plasma wave measurements of the Saturn Kilometric
Radiation
{SKR}.
FGS
11213
Distances
to Eclipsing M Dwarf Binaries
We
propose HST FGS observations to measure accurate distances of 5
nearby
M dwarf eclipsing binary systems, from which model-independent
luminosities
can be calculated. These objects have either poor or no
existing
parallax measurements. FGS parallax determinations for these
systems,
with their existing dynamic masses determined to better than
0.5%,
would serve as model-independent anchor points for the low-mass
end
of the mass-luminosity diagram.
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 i
mages.
Each observation will need its own CRMAP, as different SAA
passages
leave different imprints on the NICMOS detectors.
NIC2
11142
Revealing
the Physical Nature of Infrared Luminous Galaxies at 0.3
We
aim to determine physical properties of IR luminous galaxies at
0.3<z<2.7
by requesting coordinated HST/NIC2 and MIPS 70um observations
of
a unique, 24um flux-limited sample with complete Spitzer mid-IR
spectroscopy.
The 150 sources investigated in this program have S{24um}
>
0.8mJy and their mid-IR spectra have already provided the majority
targets
with spectroscopic redshifts {0.3<z<2.7}. The proposed
150~orbits
of NIC2 and 66~hours of MIPS 70um will provide the physical
measurements
of the light distribution at the rest-frame ~8000A and
better
estimates of the bolometric luminosity. Combining these
parameters
together with the rich suite of spectral diagnostics from the
mid-IR
spectra, we will {1} measure how common mergers are among LIRGs
and
ULIRGs at 0.3<z<2.7, and establish if major mergers are the drivers
of
z>1 ULIRGs, as in the local Universe. {2} study the co-evolution of
star
formation and black-hole accretion by investigating the relations
between
the fraction of starburst/AGN measured from mid-IR spectra vs.
HST
morphologies, L{bol} and z. {3} obtain the current best estimates of
the
far-IR emission, thus L{bol} for this sample, and establish if the
relative
contribution of mid-to-far IR dust emission is correlated with
morphology
{resolved vs. unresolved}.
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.
NIC3
11236
Did
Rare, Large Escape-Fraction Galaxies Reionize the Universe?
Lyman
continuum photons produced in massive starbursts may have played a
dominant
role in the reionization of the Universe. Starbursts are
important
contributors to the ionizing metagalactic background at lower
redshifts
as well. However, their contribution to the background depends
upon
the fraction of ionizing radiation that escapes from the intrinsic
opacity
of galaxies below the Lyman limit. Current surveys suggest that
the
escape fraction is close to zero in most galaxies, even among young
starbursts,
but is large in 15-25% of them. Non-uniform escape fractions
are
expected as a result of violent events creating clear paths in small
parts
of galaxies. The number of galaxies observed with high escape
fraction
will result from the combination of the intrinsic number with
clear
lines of sight and their orientation with respect to the observer.
We
propose to measure the fraction of escaping Lyman continuum radiation
in
a large sample (47) of z~0.7 starbursts in the COSMOS field. These
compact
UV-luminous galaxies are good analogs to high redshift LBGs.
Using
the SBC/PR130L we can quickly (1-4 orbits) detect relative escape
fractions
(f_LC/f_1500) of 25% or more. This will be the first
measurement
of the escape fraction in sources between z=1 and the local
universe.
We expect ~10 detections. Stacking will set limits of <4% on
the
relative escape fraction in the rest. We will correlate the LC
detections
with the properties of the galaxies. By targeting z~0.7 in
COSMOS,
we will have tremendous ancillary information on those sources.
A
non-detection in all sources would be significant (99% confidence).
This
would imply that QSOs provide the overwhelming majority of ionizing
radtion
at z<1, requiring substantial evolution in the processes within
Lyman
break galaxies which allow large escape fractions at high
redshift.
S/C
4974
TRTTEST
The
Transient Response Test is for the periodic performance monitoring
of
the FGS 2R servo A mechanism.
WFPC2
11022
WFPC2
Cycle 15 Decontaminations and Associated Observations
This
proposal is for the WFPC2 decons. Also included are instrument
monitors
tied to decons: photometric stability check, focus monitor,
pre-
and post-decon internals {bias, intflats, kspots, & darks}, UV
throughput
check, VISFLAT sweep, and internal UV flat check.
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
11337
Investigating
the X-ray Variability of Cassiopeia A
We
propose a 50 ksec ACIS-S observation of Cas A to follow X-ray flux
changes
associated with ejecta recently encountered by the reverse
shock.
This will allow us to investigate Cas A's near-term X-ray
evolution
and the fine-scale structure of its SN debris. We also request
the
Chandra observation be followed by HST NICMOS & WFPC2 images of four
identified
X-ray variable features in the high ionization NIR lines of
[Si
VI] and [Si X] and low ionization optical lines of [S II]
and [O
III].
The proposed X-ray/optical/NIR observations will yield a
multi-wavelength
study of the remnant's advancing reverse shock in an
inhomogeneous
multi-phase ejecta medium at resolutions down to a
fraction
of an arcsecond, providing a hi-resolution broad temperature
study
of reverse shock heated SN ejecta.
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:
18201-0
- TRTT #17
18054-0
- Preview KF Sun Vector Data via Telemetry Diags
COMPLETED
OPS NOTES: (None)
SCHEDULED
SUCCESSFUL
FGS
GSacq
09
09
FGS
REacq
02
02
OBAD
with Maneuver 27
26
SIGNIFICANT
EVENTS:
Flash
Report:
The
FGS 2R Transient Rate Trending Test (TRTT) was successfully executed
at
036/14:15z via Ops Request 18201.