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.