HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE - Continuing to collect World Class Science

DAILY REPORT      # 4504

PERIOD COVERED: UT December 10, 2007 (DOY 344)

OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS: (None)

ACS/SBC WFPC2 11175

UV Imaging to Determine the Location of Residual Star Formation in

Galaxies Recently Arrived on the Red Sequence

We have identified a sample of low-redshift {z = 0.04 - 0.10} galaxies

that are candidates for recent arrival on the red sequence. They have

red optical colors indicative of old stellar populations, but blue

UV-optical colors that could indicate the presence of a small quantity

of continuing or very recent star formation. However, their spectra lack

the emission lines that characterize star-forming galaxies. We propose

to use ACS/SBC to obtain high- resolution imaging of the UV flux in

these galaxies, in order to determine the spatial distribution of the

last episode of star formation. WFPC2 imaging will provide B, V, and I

photometry to measure the main stellar light distribution of the galaxy

for comparison with the UV imaging, as well as to measure color

gradients and the distribution of interstellar dust. This detailed

morphological information will allow us to investigate the hypothesis

that these galaxies have recently stopped forming stars and to compare

the observed distribution of the last star formation with predictions

for several different mechanisms that may quench star formation in

galaxies.

NIC1 11057

Cycle 15 NICMOS dark current, shading profile, and read noise monitoring

program

The purpose of this proposal is to monitor the dark current, read noise,

and shading profile for all three NICMOS detectors throughout the

duration of Cycle 15. This proposal is a slightly modified version of

proposal 10380 of cycle 13 and 9993 of cycle12 and is the same as Cycle

14. that we cut down some exposure time to make the observation fit

within 24 orbits.

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 blackhole 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 11341

Lower Luminosity AGNs at Cosmologically Interesting Redshifts: SEDs and

Accretion Rates of z~0.36 Seyferts

We propose a multiwavelength campaign to constrain the SEDs of Seyferts

at z~0.36. This epoch, corresponding to a look back time of 4 Gyrs, is

cosmologically interesting for studies of the coeval development of

black holes and their host galaxy bulges. Our sample, comprising 24

Seyferts, has unprecedented high quality Keck spectroscopy and HST

imaging already invested to extract host galaxy bulge properties,

estimate black hole masses, and separate nuclear and host optical

luminosities. To supplement and extend this successful program, we

request 93 ks of Chandra time (to measure the shape and power of the

AGN-only X-ray continuum), 11 hrs each of Spitzer and Gemini (to

constrain the dust temperature), and 7 orbits of HST (to determine the

nuclear luminosity for the final 7 objects).

WFPC2 11029

WFPC2 CYCLE 15 Intflat Linearity Check and Filter Rotation Anomaly

Monitor

Intflat observations will be taken to provide a linearity check: the

linearity test consists of a series of intflats in F555W, in each gain

and each shutter. A combination of intflats, visflats, and earthflats

will be used to check the repeatability of filter wheel motions.

{Intflat sequences tied to decons, visits 1-18 in prop 10363, have been

moved to the cycle 15 decon proposal xxxx for easier scheduling.} Note:

long-exposure WFPC2 intflats must be scheduled during ACS anneals to

prevent stray light from the WFPC2 lamps from contaminating long ACS

external exposures.

WFPC2 11103

A Snapshot Survey of The Most Massive Clusters of Galaxies

We propose the continuation of our highly successful SNAPshot survey of

a sample of 125 very X-ray luminous clusters in the redshift range

0.3-0.7. As demonstrated by the 25 snapshots obtained so far in Cycle14

and Cycle15 these systems frequently exhibit strong gravitational

lensing as well as spectacular examples of violent galaxy interactions.

The proposed observations will provide important constraints on the

cluster mass distributions, the physical nature of galaxy-galaxy and

galaxy-gas interactions in cluster cores, and a set of optically bright,

lensed galaxies for further 8-10m spectroscopy. All of our primary

science goals require only the detection and characterization of

high-surface-brightness features and are thus achievable even at the

reduced sensitivity of WFPC2. Because of their high redshift and thus

compact angular scale our target clusters are less adversely affected by

the smaller field of view of WFPC2 than more nearby systems.

Acknowledging the broad community interest in this sample we waive our

data rights for these observations. Due to a clerical error at STScI our

approved Cycle15 SNAP program was barred from execution for 3 months and

only 6 observations have been performed to date - reinstating this SNAP

at Cycle16 priority is of paramount importance to reach meaningful

statistics.

WFPC2 11226

Hubble Investigation of Comet 8P/Tuttle

Comet 8P/Tuttle is a returning nearly isotropic comet (NIC) with an

outstanding apparition in cycle 16, passing within 0.25 AU of the Earth.

We propose a 12-orbit Hubble investigation that will allow us to

determine the size, shape, rotational period, and color (UBVRI) of 8P,

thereby providing the most detailed view of a NIC nucleus since the

spacecraft flyby of 1P/Halley in 1986. The return of 8P is a rare

opportunity, and we expect many other observatories, including Spitzer,

to be investigating this comet. Combining the Hubble results with those

from other observatories should yield a comprehensive picture of this

NIC that can be compared to the detailed data collected on ecliptic

comets (ECs) during the past 3 decades. The differences and similarities

between NICs and ECs should yield valuable insights into the origin and

evolution of comets.

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               14                 14                           

FGS REacq               02                 02                               

OBAD with Maneuver 32                 32                    

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS: (None)