Daily Report #4733

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE - Continuing to collect World Class Science

DAILY REPORT****** #4733

PERIOD COVERED: 5am November 6 - 5am November 7, 2008 (DOY
*************************** 311/1000z-312/1000z)

OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS: (None)

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.

FGS 11945

Asteroseismology of Extrasolar Planet Host Stars

Detections of stellar oscillations, although a very demanding task in
terms of observing time, offers a return of more accurate knowledge
about the structure of stars than can be obtained in any other way. In
particular, detecting the 10-15 highest amplitude modes in solar-like
stars to signal-to-noise of just a few sigma each allows robust
constraints on the stellar density to 1%, and the stellar age to
within 5-10% of its main sequence lifetime. Ten day observing runs
using the FGS as a photometer on any of the 5 best transiting planet
systems would enable these asteroseismology returns. From more
precisely observed transit shapes than can be obtained from the ground
a completely independent constraint on stellar density to ~1% can be
obtained. The long observation sets required for asteroseismology also
provide an excellent opportunity of detecting transits from other
planets, e.g. hypothesized inner -orbit Hot Earths, should any exist.
This is a contingency proposal that could return extremely solid
science, with potential for communication as exciting use of a now
limited telescope should we find ourselves in the unfortunate
situation of having only the FGS available for many months.

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.

FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

Significant Spacecraft Anomalies: (The following are preliminary
reports of potential non-nominal performance that will be
investigated.)

HSTARS:

11568 - GSAcq(1,3,1) failed to RGA Hold on FGS-1

ReAcqs @311/14:20z, 311/15:55z, 311/17:31z and 311/19:07z also failed.
Real time OBADs executed with OR #18355-0, in an attempt to save
Astrometry Proposal ID #11945, @311/14:35z and 311/14:47z were
unsuccessful.

COMPLETED OPS REQUEST:

#18355-0** Realtime FHST MAPs @ 311/14:47z

COMPLETED OPS NOTES: (None)

*********************** SCHEDULED***** SUCCESSFUL

FGS GSacq************** 06***************** 06
FGS REacq************** 07***************** 03
OBAD with Maneuver **** 12***************** 12

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS: (None)