HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE - Continuing to collect World Class Science

DAILY REPORT      #4748

PERIOD COVERED: 5am December 2 - 5am December 3, 2008 (DOY

                           337/1000z-338/1000z)

OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED

FGS 11943

Binaries at the Extremes of the H-R Diagram

We propose to use HST/Fine Guidance Sensor 1r to survey for binaries

among some of the most massive, least massive, and oldest stars in our

part of the Galaxy. FGS allows us to spatially resolve binary systems

that are too faint for ground-based, speckle or optical long baseline

interferometry, and too close to resolve with AO. We propose a

SNAP-style program of single orbit FGS TRANS mode observations of very

massive stars in the cluster NGC 3603, luminous blue variables, nearby

low mass main sequence stars, cool subdwarf stars, and white dwarfs.

These observations will help us to (1) identify systems suitable for

followup studies for mass determination, (2) study the role of binaries

in stellar birth and in advanced evolutionary states, (3) explore the

fundamental properties of stars near the main sequence-brown dwarf

boundary, (4) understand the role of binaries for X-ray bright systems,

(5) find binaries among ancient and nearby subdwarf stars, and (6) help

calibrate the white dwarf mass - radius relation.

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 11289

SL2S: The Strong Lensing Legacy Survey

Recent systematic surveys of strong galaxy-galaxy lenses {CLASS, SLACS,

GOODS, etc.} are producing spectacular results for galaxy masses roughly

below a transition mass M~10^13 Mo. The observed lens properties and

their evolution up to z~0.2, consistent with numerical simulations, can

be described by isothermal elliptical potentials. In contrast, modeling

of giant arcs in X-ray luminous clusters {halo masses M >~10^13 Mo}

favors NFW mass profiles, suggesting that dark matter halos are not

significantly affected by baryon cooling. Until recently, lensing

surveys were neither deep nor extended enough to probe the intermediate

mass density regime, which is fundamental for understanding the assembly

of structures. The CFHT Legacy Survey now covers 125 square degrees, and

thus offers a large reservoir of strong lenses probing a large range of

mass densities up to z~1. We have extracted a list of 150 strong lenses

using the most recent CFHTLS data release via automated procedures.

Following our first SNAPSHOT proposal in cycle 15, we propose to

continue the Hubble follow-up targeting a larger list of 130 lensing

candidates. These are intermediate mass range candidates {between

galaxies and clusters} that are selected in the redshift range of 0.2-1

with no a priori X-ray selection. The HST resolution is necessary for

confirming the lensing candidates, accurate modeling of the lenses, and

probing the total mass concentration in galaxy groups up to z~1 with the

largest unbiased sample available to date.

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:

11593 - GSAcq (2,3,2) failed

           GSAcq(2,3,2) at 337/21:57:18 failed to RGA control at 22:00:47 with

           QF2STOPF and QSTOP flags set.

           Observations affected: Astrometry, proposal 11943.

11594 - GSAcq (2,1,2) failed, Search Radius Limit Exceeded

           GSAcq(2,1,2) at 338/02:46:38 failed to RGA control with Search Radius

           Limit exceeded on FGS 2 at 02:52:03.

           Observations affected: WFPC 91 to 93, proposal 11289.

COMPLETED OPS REQUEST: (None)

COMPLETED OPS NOTES: (None)

                       SCHEDULED      SUCCESSFUL

FGS GSacq               12                  10     

FGS REacq               01                  01                

OBAD with Maneuver 26                  26               

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS: (None)