Notice: Due to the conversion of some ACS WFC or HRC observations into

WFPC2, or NICMOS observations after the loss of ACS CCD science

capability in January, there may be an occasional discrepancy between a

proposal's listed (and correct) instrument usage and the abstract that

follows it.

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE - Continuing to collect World Class Science

DAILY REPORT # 4410

PERIOD COVERED: UT July 23, 2007 (DOY 204)

OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED

WFPC2 10787

Modes of Star Formation and Nuclear Activity in an Early Universe

Laboratory

Nearby compact galaxy groups are uniquely suited to exploring the

mechanisms of star formation amid repeated and ongoing gravitational

encounters, conditions similar to those of the high redshift universe.

These dense groups host a variety of modes of star formation, and they

enable fresh insights into the role of gas in galaxy evolution. With

Spitzer mid-IR observations in hand, we have begun to obtain high

quality, multi-wavelength data for a well-defined sample of 12 nearby

{<4500km/s} compact groups covering the full range of evolutionary

stages. Here we propose to obtain sensitive BVI images with the ACS/WFC,

deep enough to reach the turnover of the globular cluster luminosity

function, and WFPC2 U-band and ACS H-alpha images of Spitzer- identified

regions hosting the most recent star formation. In total, we expect to

detect over 1000 young star clusters forming inside and outside

galaxies, more than 4000 old globular clusters in >40 giant galaxies

{including 16 early-type galaxies}, over 20 tidal features,

approximately 15 AGNs, and intragroup gas in most of the 12 groups.

Combining the proposed ACS images with Chandra observations, UV GALEX

observations, ground-based H-alpha imaging, and HI data, we will conduct

a detailed study of stellar nurseries, dust, gas kinematics, and AGN.

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.

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 DARKs. 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 11157

NICMOS Imaging Survey of Dusty Debris Around Nearby Stars Across the

Stellar Mass Spectrum

Association of planetary systems with dusty debris disks is now quite

secure, and advances in our understanding of planet formation and

evolution can be achieved by the identification and characterization of

an ensemble of debris disks orbiting a range of central stars with

different masses and ages. Imaging debris disks in starlight scattered

by dust grains remains technically challenging so that only about a

dozen systems have thus far been imaged. A further advance in this field

needs an increased number of imaged debris disks. However, the technical

challege of such observations, even with the superb combination of HST

and NICMOS, requires the best targets. Recent HST imaging investigations

of debris disks were sample-limited not limited by the technology used.

We performed a search for debris disks from a IRAS/Hipparcos cross

correlation which involved an exhaustive background contamination check

to weed out false excess stars. Out of ~140 identified debris disks, we

selected 22 best targets in terms of dust optical depth and disk angular

size. Our target sample represents the best currently available target

set in terms of both disk brightness and resolvability. For example, our

targets have higher dust optical depth, in general, than newly

identified Spitzer disks. Also, our targets cover a wider range of

central star ages and masses than previous debris disk surveys. This

will help us to investigate planetary system formation and evolution

across the stellar mass spectrum. The technical feasibility of this

program in two-gyro mode guiding has been proven with on-orbit

calibration and science observations during HST cycles 13, 14, and 15.

NIC3 10996

NICMOS J-band Imaging of Strongly Lensing Clusters

We propose to use deep imaging in the F110W {'J'} band over a large area

to search for highly magnified galaxies around massive lensing clusters.

WFPC2 11023

WFPC2 CYCLE 15 Standard Darks - part 1

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 11084

Probing the Least Luminous Galaxies in the Local Universe

We propose to obtain deep color-magnitude data of eight new Local Group

galaxies which we recently discovered: Andromeda XI, Andromeda XII, and

Andromeda XIII {satellites of M31}; Canes Venatici I, Canes Venatici II,

Hercules, and Leo IV {satellites of the Milky Way}; and Leo T, a new

"free-floating" Local Group dwarf spheroidal with evidence for recent

star formation and associated H I gas. These represent the least

luminous galaxies known at *any* redshift, and are the only accessible

laboratories for studying this extreme regime of galaxy formation. With

deep WFPC-2 F606W and F814W pointings at their centers, we will

determine whether these objects contain single or multiple age stellar

populations, as well as whether these objects display a range of

metallicities.

WFPC2 11314

Calibration of MARCI UV using WFPC2

Ultraviolet imaging is a major unique component of the MARCI experiment

on MRO. Unfortunately the calibration of the UV, especially of the 260

nm filter, on MARCI is uncertain due to various unexpected problems

during laboratory calibration. Two orbits of WFPC2 observations are

requested to properly calibrate the UV using simultaneous MRO / HST

observations in a favorable geometry where HST is "looking over the

shoulder" of MRO.

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:

Ops request #18115-0 USN_DON Engineering Test Pass

was successfully executed. All test objectives were met. Today's pass,

consisting of a 32K PRT data flow, 32K real time telemetry and a 1M SSR

PDF O P/B, was the third of three needed for station certification.

COMPLETED OPS NOTES: (None)

SCHEDULED SUCCESSFUL

FGS GSacq 8 8

FGS REacq 6 6

OBAD with Maneuver 26 26

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS:

Following completion of yesterday's test pass using USN's Dongara,

Australia ground station, HST Operations declared that station fully

certified for HST use in contingencies.

-Lynn
____________________________________________________________
Lynn F. Bassford
Hubble Space Telescope
CHAMP Mission Operations Manager
Lockheed Martin Mission Services (LMMS)

NASA GSFC PH#: 301-286-2876

"The Hubble Space Telescope is the astronomical observatory and key to unlocking the most cosmic mysteries of the past, present and future."    - 7/26/6