HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE - Continuing to collect World Class Science

DAILY REPORT #4735

PERIOD COVERED: 5am November 10 - 5am November 12, 2008 (DOY

315/1000z-317/1000z)

OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED

FGS 11942

Increasing the Accuracy of HST Astrometry with FGS1r

We propose to observe six exoplanetary system host stars and two

planetary nebulae central stars with FGS1r. All objects have been

previously observed under proposals GO-09233, -09969, -10989, and

-11210. These observations will significantly extend the time baseline,

permitting improvements in the determination of proper motion. This

systematic motion must be removed to get at the perturbation of

interest, either due to exoplanetary companions or the orbital motion of

the Earth (parallax). In most cases the perturbation orbits will also

improve. We improve either companion mass or PN parallax. For one

target, GJ 876, theoretical dynamical modelers have proposed an

inclination closer to 50 degrees, while FGS3 measurements indicated an

inclination closer to 84 degrees. These new data, once combined with our

older FGS3 data, will permit an independent remeasurement of the

inclination of the outermost companion, and a re-evalution of widely

used dynamical algorithms.

WFPC2 11867

HH 30

This is a end-of-life WFPC2 imaging program of the disk and jet of the

young star HH 30. HH 30 will be observed on PC1 in filters F555W, F675W,

and F814W. Jet emission will be seen in F675W extending to the NNW.

F555W and F814W each get one orbit of long exposures, and F675W gets two

orbits to see the jet at large distances. The orientation is specified

to ensure that the jet is not truncated by the chip edge and to place

the nearby star XZ Tau in the far corner of WF2.

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.

FGS 11789

An Astrometric Calibration of Population II Distance Indicators

In 2002 HST produced a highly precise parallax for RR Lyrae. That

measurement resulted in an absolute magnitude, M(V)= 0.61+/-0.11, a

useful result, judged by the over ten refereed citations each year

since. It is, however, unsatisfactory to have the direct,

parallax-based, distance scale of Population II variables based on a

single star. We propose, therefore, to obtain the parallaxes of four

additional RR Lyrae stars and two Population II Cepheids, or W Vir

stars. The Population II Cepheids lie with the RR Lyrae stars on a

common K-band Period-Luminosity relation. Using these parallaxes to

inform that relationship, we anticipate a zero-point error of 0.04

magnitude. This result should greatly strengthen confidence in the

Population II distance scale and increase our understanding of RR Lyrae

star and Pop II Cepheid astrophysics.

FGS 11212

Filling the Period Gap for Massive Binaries

The current census of binaries among the massive O-type stars is

seriously incomplete for systems in the period range from years to

millennia because the radial velocity variations are too small and the

angular separations too close for easy detection. Here we propose to

discover binaries in this observational gap through a Faint Guidance

Sensor SNAP survey of relatively bright targets listed in the Galactic O

Star Catalog. Our primary goal is to determine the binary frequency

among those in the cluster/association, field, and runaway groups. The

results will help us assess the role of binaries in massive star

formation and in the processes that lead to the ejection of massive

stars from their natal clusters. The program will also lead to the

identification of new, close binaries that will be targets of long term

spectroscopic and high angular resolution observations to determine

their masses and distances. The results will also be important for the

interpretation of the spectra of suspected and newly identified binary

and multiple systems.

WFPC2 11130

AGNs with Intermediate-mass Black Holes: Testing the Black Hole-Bulge

Paradigm, Part II

The recent progress in the study of central black holes in galactic

nuclei has led to a general consensus that supermassive {10^6-10^9 solar

mass} black holes are closely connected with the formation and

evolutionary history of large galaxies, especially their bulge

component. Two outstanding issues, however, remain unresolved. Can

central black holes form in the absence of a bulge? And does the mass

function of central black holes extend below 10^6 solar masses?

Intermediate-mass black holes {<10^6 solar masses}, if they exist, may

offer important clues to the nature of the seeds of supermassive black

holes. Using the SDSS, our group has successfully uncovered a new

population of AGNs with intermediate-mass black holes that reside in

low-luminosity galaxies. However, very little is known about the

detailed morphologies or structural parameters of the host galaxies

themselves, including the crucial question of whether they have bulges

or not. Surprisingly, the majority of the targets of our Cycle 14 pilot

program have structural properties similar to dwarf elliptical galaxies.

The statistics from this initial study, however, are really too sparse

to reach definitive conclusions on this important new class of black

holes. We wish to extend this study to a larger sample, by using the

Snapshot mode to obtain WFPC2 F814W images from a parent sample of 175

AGNs with intermediate- mass black holes selected from our final SDSS

search. We are particularly keen to determine whether the hosts contain

bulges, and if so, how the fundamental plane properties of the host

depend on the mass of their central black holes. We will also

investigate the environment of this unique class of AGNs.

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.

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:

18357-2 - ESM Side Switch & FSW Update 315/22:33z

18358-0 - ESM Return to Side A @ 316/00:55z

COMPLETED OPS NOTES: (None)

SCHEDULED SUCCESSFUL

FGS GSacq 27 27

FGS REacq 01 01

OBAD with Maneuver 58 58

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS:

Flash Report: ESM Side Switch, FSW Update, and Return to Side A

At approximately 315/22:36 UTC, Ops Request 18357 was completed,

configuring the ESM to use RIU-B and MCU-B in an effort to further

isolate the potential cause of the NCS pressure telemetry disparities

noted since DOY 290. Upon powering the PCE on the B-side and receiving

valid pressure telemetry, no change in the disparities between the TBA

and compressor inlet pressures, and the fill bottle and circulator inlet

pressures were observed when being read through the redundant

electronics. 8051 FSW version 7.0.0 was then successfully loaded into

both the high and low banks of EEPROM on MCU-B.

Following validation of the load integrity, after approximately 1 hour

of ingesting B-side telemetry, the ESM was transitioned down and

reconfigured back to the original RIU-A/MCU-A configuration. While in

Boot, the opportunity was taken to load 8051 FSW version 7.00 in to the

remaining high EEPROM bank on the A-side as well. Power was restored to

the PCE and the NCS CPL was returned to its Standby mode at

approximately 316/00:54 UTC, successfully completing Ops Request 18358.

The pressure disparities remain unchanged since returning to the A-side.