Notice: For the foreseeable future, the daily reports may contain

apparent discrepancies between some proposal descriptions and the listed

instrument usage. This is due to the conversion of previously approved

ACS WFC or HRC observations into WFPC2, or NICMOS observations

subsequent to the loss of ACS CCD science capability in late January.

 

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE - Continuing to collect World Class Science

 

DAILY REPORT       # 4355

 

PERIOD COVERED: UT May 03, 2007 (DOY 123)

 

OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED

 

WFPC2 10800

 

Kuiper Belt Binaries: Probes of Early Solar System Evolution

 

Binaries in the Kuiper Belt are a scientific windfall: in them we have

relatively fragile test particles which can be used as tracers of the

early dynamical evolution of the outer Solar System. We propose to

continue a Snapshot program using the ACS/HRC that has a demonstrated

discovery potential an order of magnitude higher than the HST

observations that have already discovered the majority of known

transneptunian binaries. With this continuation we seek to reach the

original goals of this project: to accumulate a sufficiently large

sample in each of the distinct populations collected in the Kuiper Belt

to be able to measure, with statistical significance, how the fraction

of binaries varies as a function of their particular dynamical paths

into the Kuiper Belt. Today's Kuiper Belt bears the imprints of the

final stages of giant-planet building and migration; binaries may offer

some of the best preserved evidence of that long-ago era.

 

WFPC2 10877

 

A Snapshot Survey of the Sites of Recent, Nearby Supernovae

 

During the past few years, robotic {or nearly robotic} searches for

supernovae {SNe}, most notably our Lick Observatory Supernova Search

{LOSS}, have found hundreds of SNe, many of them in quite nearby

galaxies {cz < 4000 km/s}. Most of the objects were discovered before

maximum brightness, and have follow-up photometry and spectroscopy; they

include some of the best-studied SNe to date. We propose to conduct a

snapshot imaging survey of the sites of some of these nearby objects, to

obtain late-time photometry that {through the shape of the light and

color curves} will help reveal the origin of their lingering energy. The

images will also provide high-resolution information on the local

environments of SNe that are far superior to what we can procure from

the ground. For example, we will obtain color-color and color-magnitude

diagrams of stars in these SN sites, to determine the SN progenitor

masses and constraints on the reddening. Recovery of the SNe in the new

HST images will also allow us to actually pinpoint their progenitor

stars in cases where pre- explosion images exist in the HST archive.

This proposal is an extension of our successful Cycle 13 snapshot survey

with ACS. It is complementary to our Cycle 15 archival proposal, which

is a continuation of our long-standing program to use existing HST

images to glean information about SN environments.

 

WFPC2 10910

 

HST / Chandra Monitoring of a Dramatic Flare in the M87 Jet

 

As the nearest galaxy with an optical jet, M87 affords an unparalleled

opportunity to study extragalactic jet phenomena at the highest

resolution. During 2002, HST and Chandra monitoring of the M87 jet

detected a dramatic flare in knot HST-1 located ~1" from the nucleus.

Its optical brightness eventually increased seventy-fold and peaked in

2005; the X- rays show a similarly dramatic outburst. In both bands

HST-1 is still extremely bright and greatly outshines the galaxy

nucleus. To our knowledge this is the first incidence of an optical or

X-ray outburst from a jet region which is spatially distinct from the

core source -- this presents an unprecedented opportunity to study the

processes responsible for non- thermal variability and the X-ray

emission. We propose five epochs of HST/ACS flux monitoring during Cycle

15, as well as seven epochs of Chandra/ACIS observation {5ksec each,

five Chandra epochs contemporary with HST}. At two of the HST/ACS epochs

we also gather spectral information and map the magnetic field

structure. The results of this investigation are of key importance not

only for understanding the nature of the X-ray emission of the M87 jet,

but also for understanding flares in blazar jets, which are highly

variable, but where we have never before been able to resolve the

flaring region in the optical or X-rays. These observations will allow

us to test synchrotron emission models for the X- ray outburst,

constrain particle acceleration and loss timescales, and study the jet

dynamics associated with this flaring component.

 

WFPC2 10880

 

The host galaxies of QSO2s: AGN feeding and evolution at high

luminosities

 

Now that the presence of supermassive black holes in the nuclei of

galaxies is a well established fact, other questions related to the AGN

phenomena still have to be answered. Problems of particular interest are

how the AGN gets fed, how the black hole evolves and how the evolution

of the black hole is related to the evolution of the galaxy bulge. Here

we propose to address some of these issues using ACS/WFC + F775W

snapshot images of 73 QSO2s with redshifts in the range 0.3<z<0.4. These

observations will be combined with similar archival data of QSO1s and

ground based data of Seyfert and normal galaxies. First, we will

intestigate whether interactions are the most important feeding

mechanism in high luminosity AGNs. This will be done in a quantitative

way, comparing the asymmetry indices of QSO2 hosts with those of lower

luminosity AGNs and normal galaxies. Second, we will do a detailed study

of the morphology of the host galaxies of both QSO types, to determine

if they are similar, or if there is an evolutionary trend from QSO2s to

QSO1s. The results from this project will represent an important step in

the understanding of AGN evolution, and may also introduce a substantial

modification to the Unified Model.

 

NIC1/NIC2/NIC3 8794

 

NICMOS Post-SAA calibration - CR Persistence Part 5

 

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 10808

 

Morphologies of spectroscopically-confirmed "red and dead" galaxies at

z~2.5

 

Using a combination of wide-field near-infrared imaging and very deep

follow-up near-infrared spectroscopy we have identified a population of

massive "red and dead" galaxies at z~2.5. The galaxies lack emission

lines and have strong Balmer/4000 Angstrom breaks, demonstrating

directly that they have evolved stellar populations. These objects are

very likely progenitors of massive ellipticals today and may be

descendants of the first generation of galaxies. We propose to image 10

of these objects with the NIC2 camera to determine their morphologies.

The goals are to 1} determine whether they have the sizes of present-day

early-types or are more compact, as predicted by models, 2} determine

the morphology, using visual classification and quantitative methods,

and 3} constrain the evolution of the Kormendy relation from z~2.5 to

the present. These observations will show whether the oldest and most

massive galaxies at z~2.5 were already fully formed or still in the

process of assembly.

 

NIC3 10839

 

The NICMOS Polarimetric Calibration

 

Recently, it has been shown that NICMOS possesses an instrumental

polarization at a level of 1.2%. This completely inhibits the data

reduction in a number of previous GO programs, and hampers the ability

of the instrument to perform high accuracy polarimetry. In all, 90

orbits of HST data are affected, with potentially many more in Cycle 15.

We propose to obtain high signal to noise observations of three

polarimetric standards at the cardinal roll angles of the NICMOS

polarizers for both NIC1 and NIC2. These observations are designed to

fully characterize the instrumental polarization in order for NICMOS to

reach its full potential by enabling high accuracy polarimetry of

sources with polarizations around 1%. The residual polarization will

also be determined as a function of position and spectral energy

distribution. Our group will rapidly turn around the required data

products and produce reports and software for the accurate

representation of the instrumental polarization. These items will be

presented to STScI and for dissemination among the wider astronomical

community.

 

NIC3 11080

 

Exploring the Scaling Laws of Star Formation

 

As a variety of surveys of the local and distant Universe are

approaching a full census of galaxy populations, our attention needs to

turn towards understanding and quantifying the physical mechanisms that

trigger and regulate the large-scale star formation rates {SFRs} in

galaxies.

 

WFPC2 10845

 

HUNTING FOR OPTICAL COMPANIONS TO BINARY MILLISECOND PULSARS IN TERZAN 5

AND NGC6266

 

We propose deep WFPC2 and NICMOS observations to search for optical

companions to binary millisecond pulsar {MSPs} in two Globular Clusters

{GCs}: Terzan 5 and NGC6266. Terzan 5 has the largest MSP population of

any GC: 33 MSP {17 in binary systems} have been discovered up to now in

this stellar system. NGC6266 ranks fifth among the GC for wealth of MSPs

but it is the only one in which all the {six} detected MSPs are in

binary systems. Only 5 optical counterparts to binary MSP companions are

known in GCs {two of them have been discovered by our group}: hence even

the addition of a few new identifications are crucial to investigate the

variety of processes occurring in binary MSPs in dense environment. The

observations proposed here would easily double/triple the existing

sample of known MSP companions, allowing the first meaningful study of

the phenomena which drive the formation and evolution of these exotic

systems. Moreover, since most of binary MSP in GC are formed via stellar

interactions in the high density regions of the cluster, the

determination of the nature of the companion and the incidence of this

collisionally induced population have a significant impact on our

knowledge of the cluster dynamics. Even more interesting, the study of

the optical companions to NSs in a GC allows to derive tighter

constraints {than those obtainable for NS binaries in the galactic

field} on the properties {mass, orbital inclination and so on} of the

compation star. This has, in turn, an intrisic importance for

fundamental physics since it offers the opportunity of measuring the

mass of the NS and hence to put constraints to the equation of state of

matter at nuclear equilibrium density.

 

FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

 

Significant Spacecraft Anomalies: (The following are preliminary reports

of potential non-nominal performance that will be investigated.)

 

HSTARS:

10798 - GSacq (2,3,2) failed to RGA control

           During LOS the GSacq (2,3,2) scheduled at 123/22:31:35 failed. At The

           Map at 23:20:21 showed errors of v1= 431.20, V2=708.51, V3=926.65 and

           RSS= 1243.62.

           AOS (23:19:01) we observed stop flags QF2STOPF and QSTOP for FGS 2.  

           The REacq (2,3,2) at 124/00:04:19 also failed during LOS with stop flags

           on FGS 2.

 

COMPLETED OPS REQUEST:

18058-1 - MSS/CSSGyro2 KF Initialization Convergence Testing for SMS 120 (Test # 36 & 9)                                                                                                            

18059-1 - MSS/CSS KF Add/Removal of Gyro1 Input Testing for SMS 120 (Test # 28)

18061-1 - MSS KF Adding Gyro1 Convergence Testing for SMS 120 (Test # 22)

18054-0 - Preview KF Sun Vector Data via Telemetry Diags

18067-1 - PCS KF OOT Support

18068-1 - PCS KF OOT Support

 

 

COMPLETED OPS NOTES: (None)

 

                      SCHEDULED      SUCCESSFUL 

FGS GSacq              10                  09         

FGS REacq               03                 02                

OBAD with Maneuver 27                 27              

 

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS:

 

Evaluation of Universal Kalman Filter performance continued. Multiple

text segments were executed, all of them successfully. Details follow.

 

Background Kalman Filter Operation Flash Report for day 123

 

The KF was halted at 123/16:15 (OR 18061-1). The filter was restarted at

123/16:16 during orbit day and during an F2G guiding interval. The

filter was activated with only the MSS enabled. The Gyro1 sensor input

was added to the converged KF at 123/16:28 during orbit day, in an M2G

guiding period with the vehicle inertially fixed and during a slow

changing B-field. All UKF parameters showed nominal operation. The test

was an MSS/Gyro1 test case with the Gyro1 input added to an already

converged filter with the vehicle inertially fixed and during a slow

changing B-field (M_G1_RNS, Test #22).

 

The Gyro input was removed at 123/16:39 and the CSS sensor input

re-enabled at 123/16:50 to reconfigure the KF back to its default

MSS/CSS input state. The activity above used the slot 1 TMDIAG at

123/16:24. The slot 1 TMDIAG was reset to monitor the V2 component of

the KF estimated sun vector at 123/16:52.

 

The Gyro1 sensor input was added to the an already converged KF at

123/18:15. The MSS and CSS sensor inputs were enabled. The Gyro1 sensor

input was added during an M2G guiding period during orbit day, during a

vehicle slew and during a slow changing B-field. All UKF parameters

showed nominal operation. The test was an MSS/CSS test case with the

Gyro1 sensor input added during a vehicle slew and a slow changing

B-field (MC_G1_RVS, Test #28).

 

The MSS/CSS default KF configuration was restored at 123/19:11. The

activity above used the slot 1 TMDIAG at 123/18:15. The slot 1 TMDIAG

was reset to monitor the V2 component of the KF estimated sun vector at

123/19:24. The KF was halted at 123/20:05. The filter was restarted at

123/20:04 during an M2G guiding period, during orbit day, during a

vehicle slew and during a slow changing B-field. All UKF parameters

showed nominal operation. The test was an MSS/CSS/Gyro2 Initialization

test case during a vehicle slew and during a slow changing B-field

(MC_G1_IVS, Test #36).

 

The MSS/CSS default configuration was restored at 123/20:17. The filter

was planned to be restarted in the default configuration at 20:15 to

execute an additional test (M_C_IVP, Test #9). This test is an

initialization test with the MSS and CSS sensor inputs enabled at orbit

day, during a vehicle slew immediately prior to EON. However, due to

communication issues the test was not executed at the time required to

capture the penumbra. This test will be rescheduled.

 

The tests above complete the KF testing for the week of the 120 SMS.