HUBBLE
SPACE TELESCOPE - Continuing to collect World Class Science
DAILY
REPORT #4667
PERIOD
COVERED: 5am August 4 - 5am August 5, 2008 (DOY 217/0900z-218/0900z)
OBSERVATIONS
SCHEDULED
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.
FGS
11210
The
Architecture of Exoplanetary Systems
Are
all planetary systems coplanar? Concordance cosmogony makes that
prediction.
It is, however, a prediction of extrasolar planetary system
architecture
as yet untested by direct observation for main sequence
stars
other than the Sun. To provide such a test, we propose to carry
out
FGS astrometric studies on four stars hosting seven companions. Our
understanding
of the planet formation process will grow as we match not
only
system architecture, but formed planet mass and true distance from
the
primary with host star characteristics for a wide variety of host
stars
and exoplanet masses. We propose that a series of FGS astrometric
observations
with demonstrated 1 millisecond of arc per-observation
precision
can establish the degree of coplanarity and component true
masses
for four extrasolar systems: HD 202206 {brown dwarf+planet}; HD
128311
{planet+planet}, HD 160691 = mu Arae {planet+planet}, and HD
222404AB
= gamma Cephei {planet+star}. In each case the companion is
identified
as such by assuming that the minimum mass is the actual mass.
For
the last target, a known stellar binary system, the companion orbit
is
stable only if coplanar with the AB binary orbit.
NIC1/NIC2
11172
Defining
Classes of Long Period Variable Stars in M31
We
propose a thrifty but information-packed investigation {1440
exposures
total} with NICMOS F205W, F160W and F110W providing crucial
information
about Long Period Variables in M31, at a level of detail
that
has recently allowed the discovery of new variable star classes in
the
Magellanic Clouds, a very different stellar population. These
observations
are buttressed by an extensive map of the same fields with
ACS
and WFPC2 exposures in F555W and F814W, and a massive ground-based
imaging
patrol producing well-sampled light curves for more than 400,000
variable
stars. Our primary goal is to collect sufficient NIR data in
order
to analyze and classify the huge number of long-period variables
in
our catalog {see below} through Period-Luminosity {P/L} diagrams. We
will
produce accurate P/L diagrams for both the bulge and a progression
of
locations throughout the disk of M31. These diagrams will be similar
in
quality to those currently in the Magellanic Clouds, with their lower
metallicity,
radically different star formation history, and larger
spread
in distance to the variables. M31 offers an excellent chance to
study
more typical disk populations, in a manner which might be extended
to
more distant galaxies where such variables are still visible, probing
a
much more evenly spread progenitor age distribution than cepheids {and
perhaps
useful as a distance scale alternative or cross-check}. Our data
will
also provide a massive and unique color-magnitude dataset, and
allow
us to confirm the microlensing nature of a large sample of
candidate
lensed sources in M31. We expect that this study will produce
several
important results, among them a better understanding of P/L and
P/L-color
relations for pulsating variables which are essential to the
extragalactic
distance ladder, will view these variables at a common
distance
over a range of metallicities {eliminating the distance- error
vs.
metallicity ambiguity between the LMC and SMC}, allow further
insight
into possible faint-variable mass-loss for higher metallicities,
and
in general produce a sample more typical of giant disk galaxies
predominant
in many studies.
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/WFPC2
11142
Revealing
the Physical Nature of Infrared Luminous Galaxies at 0.3<z<2.7
Using
HST and Spitzer
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}.
WFPC2
11178
Probing
Solar System History with Orbits, Masses, and Colors of
Transneptunian
Binaries
The
recent discovery of numerous transneptunian binaries {TNBs} opens a
window
into dynamical conditions in the protoplanetary disk where they
formed
as well as the history of subsequent events which sculpted the
outer
Solar System and emplaced them onto their present day heliocentric
orbits.
To date, at least 47 TNBs have been discovered, but only about a
dozen
have had their mutual orbits and separate colors determined,
frustrating
their use to investigate numerous important scientific
questions.
The current shortage of data especially cripples scientific
investigations
requiring statistical comparisons among the ensemble
characteristics.
We propose to obtain sufficient astrometry and
photometry
of 23 TNBs to compute their mutual orbits and system masses
and
to determine separate primary and secondary colors, roughly tripling
the
sample for which this information is known, as well as extending it
to
include systems of two near-equal size bodies. To make the most
efficient
possible use of HST, we will use a
optimally
schedule our observations.
WFPC2
11203
A
Search for Circumstellar Disks and Planetary-Mass Companions around
Brown
Dwarfs in Taurus
During
a 1-orbit program in Cycle 14, we used WFPC2 to obtain the first
direct
image of a circumstellar disk around a brown dwarf. These data
have
provided fundamental new constraints on the formation process of
brown
dwarfs and the properties of their disks. To search for additional
direct
detections of disks around brown dwarfs and to search for
planetary-mass
companions to these objects, we propose a WFPC2 survey of
32
brown dwarfs in the Taurus star-forming region.
WFPC2
11796
WFPC2
Cycle 16 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
11797
Supplemental
WFPC2 CYCLE 16 Intflat Linearity Check and Filter Rotation
Anomaly
Monitor
Supplemental
observations to 11029, to cover period from Aug 08 to SM4.
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 11022 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.
Note:
These are supplemental observations to cover June to SM4 (oct 8
'08)
+ 6 months.
FLIGHT
OPERATIONS SUMMARY:
Significant
Spacecraft Anomalies: (The following are preliminary reports
of
potential non-nominal performance that will be investigated.)
HSTARS:
11424
- REAcq (1,2,1) results in Fine Lock Backup (1,0,1)
At 217/19:34:46, REAcq (1,2,1) scheduled from 217/19:30:54 - 19:38:28
resulted in Fine Lock Back-up (1,0,1) using FGS-1. Received QF2STOPF and
QSTOP stop flags. OBAD #1: V1 1204.78, V2 1769.92, V3 -785.27, RSS
2280.52 arc seconds. OBAD #2: V1 -2.69, V2 -1.74, V3 0.36, RSS 3.23 arc
seconds. OBAD MAP was not scheduled.
Possible observations affected: WFPC Proposal 11178, Observation 77-80.
COMPLETED
OPS REQUEST: (None)
COMPLETED
OPS NOTES: (None)
SCHEDULED SUCCESSFUL
FGS
GSacq 11 11
FGS
REacq 02 02
OBAD
with Maneuver 28 28
SIGNIFICANT
EVENTS: (None)