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DAILY REPORT #3905
HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE - Continuing to collect World Class Science
DAILY REPORT #3905 PERIOD COVERED: UT July 19, 2005 (DOY 200) OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED ACS/HRC 10435 Merger-Induced Populations in Early-Type Galaxy Cores Hierarchical formation models predict that early-type galaxies are built up over an extended period from mergers of smaller systems, a process which should leave long- lived signatures in their light profiles and stellar population colors. Merger events should have continued up to relatively recent times {the last 1-5 Gyr}, and many ellipticals and S0 bulges should therefore show evidence of multiple, discrete, intermediate-age populations. Although there is substantial observational support for a dissipational merger origin for some early-type galaxies, most do not exhibit the expected anomalies in either their light profiles or color distributions. However, existing searches {mainly in the V and I bands} have not probed very deeply. Here we propose high resolution, broad-band, near-ultraviolet {2500-3400 A} imaging of the cores of bright early-type galaxies. This is the most sensitive probe available for the detection of spatially-segregated, multiple population components with ages in the range 1-5 Gyr. Our sample consists of dust- and AGN-free systems with both normal and mildly anomalous central light profiles. There is very little existing information on the near-UV structure of early-type galaxies, and our program would effectively explore new terrain. ACS/HRC/WFC 10548 Near-UV Snapshot Survey of Low Luminosity AGNs Low-luminosity active galactic nuclei {LLAGNs} comprise ~30% of all bright galaxies {B12.5} and are the most common type of AGN. These include low-luminosity Seyfert galaxies, LINERs, and transition-type objects {TOs, also called weak-[OI] LINERs}. What powers them is still at the forefront of AGN research. To unveil the nature of the central source we propose a near-UV snapshot survey of 50 nearby LLAGNs using ACS/HRC and the filter {F330W}, a configuration which is optimal to detect faint star forming regions around their nuclei. These images will complement optical and near-IR images available in the HST archive, providing a panchromatic atlas of the inner regions of these galaxies, which will be used to study their nuclear stellar population. Our main goals are to: 1} Investigate the presence of nuclear unresolved sources that can be attributed to an AGN; 2} Determine the frequency of nuclear and circumnuclear stellar clusters, and whether they are more common in Transition Objects {TOs} than in LINERs; 3} Characterize the sizes, colors, luminosities, masses and ages of these clusters; 4} Derive the luminosity function of star clusters and study their evaporation over time in the vicinity of AGNs. Finally, the results of this project will be combined with those of a previous similar one for Seyfert galaxies in order to compare the nature of the nuclear sources and investigate if there could be an evolution from Seyferts to TOs and LINERs. By adding UV images to the existing optical and near-IR ones, this project will also create an extremely valuable database for astronomers with a broad range of scientific interests. ACS/WFC 10407 When did M31's disk form? The recent discovery of THIN disk globular clusters in M31 provides a unique opportunity to determine the age of M31's disk. The globular cluster kinematics imply that the disk has not been significantly heated or destroyed by a merger since they were formed. Thus the cluster ages provide a lower limit to the disk age. This limit will complement the high-redshift data, where few disk galaxies are currently known because of their relatively low surface brighness. We propose to obtain BV ACS imaging of seven disk clusters to below the level of the horizontal branch {HB} to determine the distribution of evolved stars in the color-magnitude diagram. The contribution of evolved stars, particularly blue HB stars, is crucial to estimating the age of the globular cluster from both color-magnitude diagrams and the high S/N integrated spectra which we will obtain from the ground. ACS/WFC 10523 The Halo Shape and Metallicity of Massive Spiral Galaxies We propose to resolve the stellar populations of the halos of seven nearby, massive disk galaxies using a SNAP survey with WFC/ACS. These observations will provide star counts and color-magnitude diagrams 2-3 magnitudes below the tip of the Red Giant Branch along the two principal axes and one intermediate axis of each galaxy. We will measure the metallicity distribution functions and stellar density profiles from star counts down to very low average surface brightnesses, equivalent to ~31 V-mag per square arcsec. This proposal will create a unique sampling of galaxy halo properties, as our targets cover a range in galaxy mass, luminosity, inclination, and morphology. As function of these galaxy properties this survey will provide:- the first systematic measurement of radial light profiles and axial ratios of the diffuse stellar halos and outer disks of spiral galaxies- a comprehensive analysis of halo metallicity distributions as function of galaxy type and position within the galaxy- an unprecedented study of the stellar metallicity and age distribution in the outer disk regions where the disk truncations occur- the first comparative study of globular clusters and their field stellar populations We will use these fossil records of the galaxy assembly process to test halo formation models within the hierarchical galaxy formation scheme. ACS/WFC 10624 Solving the Mystery of the Short-Hard Gamma-Ray Bursts Eight years after the afterglow detections that revolutionized studies of the long-soft gamma-ray bursts, not even one afterglow of a short-hard GRB has been seen, and the nature of these events has become one of the most important problems in GRB research. The Swift satellite, expected to be in full operation throughout Cycle 14, will report few-arcsecond localizations for short-hard bursts in minutes, enabling prompt, deep optical afterglow searches for the first time. Discovery and observation of the first short-hard optical afterglows will answer most of the critical questions about these events: What are their distances and energies? Do they occur in distant galaxies, and if so, in which regions of those galaxies? Are they the result of collimated or quasi- spherical explosions? In combination with an extensive rapid-response ground-based campaign, we propose to make the critical high-sensitivity HST TOO observations that will allow us to answer these questions. If theorists are correct in attributing the short- hard bursts to binary neutron star coalescence events, then they will serve as signposts to the primary targeted source population for ground-based gravitational-wave detectors, and short-hard burst studies will have a vital role to play in guiding those observations. ACS/WFC/WFPC2 10394 Deep imaging of newly discovered globular clusters in the outer halo of M31 Globular clusters {GCs} are fossil relics with which we can investigate the processes of galaxy formation and growth. We have recently discovered a sample of GCs, as part of a very wide area CCD survey of M31. These clusters span a range in projected galactocentric distance of 20 - 80 kpc, more than double the radii of the previous most remote known GC. Here we apply for deep ACS images of 13 GCs, which will allow us to study their stellar populations, line-of-sight distances and structural parameters. These will be used to: a} Investigate the merger history of M31, through an examination of variations in the RGB and HB morphologies, particularly to obtain metallicities and check for the presence of any second parameter effect in the HB. d} Determine, in conjuction with ground-based spectroscopy, the dynamical mass of M31 at large radius, providing a direct probe of the mass distribution of its dark halo. ACS/WFC/WFPC2 10402 The Formation and Evolution of Spirals: An ACS and WFPC2 Imaging Survey of Nearby Galaxies Over 50% of galaxies in the local universe are spirals. Yet the star formation histories and evolution of this crucial population remain poorly understood. We propose to combine archival data with new ACS/WFC and WFPC2 observations of 11 galaxies, to tackle a comprehensive investigation of nearby spirals covering the entire spiral sequence. The new observations will fill a serious deficiency in HST's legacy, and maximize the scientific return of existing HST data. The filter combination of UBVI, and Halpha is ideal for studying stellar populations, dust properties, and the ISM. Our immediate scientific objectives a {i} to use the resolved cluster populations, both young massive clusters and ancient globular clusters as a chronometer, to understand how spirals assembled as a function of time; {ii} study the rapid disruption properties of young clusters; and {iii} understand dust distributions in spirals from pc to kpc scales. Each of these goals provides an important step towards charting the evolution of galaxies, and an essential baseline for interpreting the galaxy populations being surveyed in both the early and present universe. The resolution of our survey, which exploits the excellent imaging capabilities of HST's two optical cameras, will enable us to understand the record of star cluster, and galaxy formation in a level of detail which is not possible for more distant systems. Finally, the proposed observations will provide a key to interpret an extensive, multiwavelength archive of space- and ground- based data at lower spatial resolution {SPITZER, CHANDRA, GALEX, NICMOS P alpha and H band imaging} for local spirals. WFPC2 10360 WFPC2 CYCLE 13 INTERNAL MONITOR This calibration proposal is the Cycle 13 routine internal monitor for WFPC2, to be run weekly to monitor the health of the cameras. A variety of internal exposures are obtained in order to provide a monitor of the integrity of the CCD camera electronics in both bays {gain 7 and gain 15}, a test for quantum efficiency in the CCDs, and a monitor for possible buildup of contaminants on the CCD windows. FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY: Significant Spacecraft Anomalies: (The following are preliminary reports of potential non-nominal performance that will be investigated.) HSTARS: #9897 - Reacq(2,1,1) required multiple attempts to reach finelock @200/0248z REacq(2,1,1) at 201/02:48:24 took 2 attempts to achieve finelock. The acquisition was successful. COMPLETED OPS REQUEST: #17477-0 - GENSLEW for Proposal 10411- Slot#12 @200/1445z #17478-0 - GENSLEW for Proposal 10411- Slot# 1 @200/1447z #17479-0 - GENSLEW for Proposal 10411- Slot# 2 @200/1449z #17480-0 - GENSLEW for Proposal 10411- Slot# 3 @200/1450z COMPLETED OPS NOTES: (None) SCHEDULED SUCCESSFUL FGS Gsacq 06 06 FGS Reacq 09 09 FHST Update 10 10 SIGNIFICANT EVENTS: (None) |
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