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Daily 3734
HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE - Continuing to collect World Class Science
DAILY REPORT # 3734 PERIOD COVERED: DOY 314 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED ACS/HRC/NIC1/WFC 10190 The Star Formation History and Metallicity Evolution of M33: A Comprehensive Study of Disk Evolution We will obtain deep, panchromatic imaging photometry of stellar populations in four fields ranging from 0.5 to 4 scale lengths across the disk of the Local Group spiral M33. The observations are designed to detect the oldest main-sequence turnoffs in three outer disk fields, and to reach the crowding limit in the innermost field. We will combine the photometry data with information we already have in-hand on abundances from stars and H II regions in M33 to derive the star formation history and metallicity evolution of the M33 disk. The information from our four fields will allow us to obtain {1} the ages of the oldest disk stars and the radial variation of their ages; {2} the radial variation of the star formation history and its nature {e.g., constant, declining, or bursting}; and {3} the metallicity distribution in each field and the time evolution of the metallicity gradient. Our team, an experienced mix of photometrists, spectroscopists, and galaxy evolution theorists, will use the results from this program to construct a comprehensive chemo-dynamical model for the M33 disk. This detailed study of M33 will be a key in developing an understanding of the formation and evolution of disks that can be applied to studies of disks at both low and high redshift, and will also yield a wealth of information on stellar populations, chemical evolution, and star clusters that will be of great value to future investigators. ACS/WFC 10216 Co-evolution of spheroids and black holes The masses of the giant black holes in galaxies are correlated with the luminosities, masses, and velocity dispersions of their host spheroids. This empirical connection of phenomena on widely different scales {from sub-parsec to kiloparsec} suggests that the evolution of a galaxy and its central black hole are closely linked. We propose to test various unified formation models, by measuring the cosmic evolution of the black hole/spheroid relations, back to z=0.37 {a lookback time of 4 Gyrs}. We will obtain 1-orbit ACS images of a sample of 20 Seyfert 1 galaxies, for which we already have extensive new ground-based measures of the black hole masses and the stellar velocity dispersions. HST resolution is required for accurate measurement of the nonstellar AGN continuum, and the luminosity and effective radius of the bulge of each host galaxy. This will complete the set of observables needed to map the co-evolution of spheroids and black-holes. The proposed sample is the minimum required to make the first measure of the black hole mass/bulge correlation and of the fundamental plane for active galaxies outside the local Universe. FGS 10110 Parallaxes of Extreme Halo Subgiants: Calibrating Globular Cluster Distances and the Ages of the Oldest Stars The ages of the oldest stars are a key constraint on the evolution of our Galaxy, the history of star formation, and cosmological models. These ages are usually determined from globular clusters. However, it is alternatively possible to determine ages of extreme Population II subgiants in the solar neighborhood based on trigonometric parallaxes, without any recourse to clusters. This approach completely avoids the vexing issues of cluster distances, reddenings, and chemical compositions. There are 3 known nearby, extremely metal-deficient Pop II subgiants with Hipparcos parallax errors of 6-11% which are available for such age determinations. At present, based on the latest isochrones, the derived ages of these stars {HD 84937, HD 132475, and HD 140283} are all close to 14 Gyr, uncomfortably close to or higher than current estimates of the age of the universe. However, the errors in the Hipparcos parallaxes imply uncertainties of at least 2 Gyr in the ages of the 3 stars. We propose to measure parallaxes of these three Pop II subgiants using HST's Fine Guidance Sensor 1R. We expect to reduce the Hipparcos parallax error bars by factors of 5-6, providing the most stringent test yet of current theoretical stellar models of Pop II stars and pushing the age uncertainties to below 0.5 Gyr. These data will also provide a major new constraint on the distance scale of globular clusters, with wide implications for stellar evolution and the calibration of Pop II standard candles. NIC/NIC3 10226 The NICMOS Grism Parallel Survey We propose to continue managing the NICMOS pure parallel program. Based on our experience, we are well prepared to make optimal use of the parallel opportunities. The improved sensitivity and efficiency of our observations will substantially increase the number of line-emitting galaxies detected. As our previous work has demonstrated, the most frequently detected line is Halpha at 0.7z1.9, which provides an excellent measure of current star formation rate. We will also detect star-forming and active galaxies in other redshift ranges using other emission lines. The grism observations will produce by far the best available Halpha luminosity functions over the crucial--but poorly observed--redshift range where galaxies appear to have assembled most of their stellar mass. This key process of galaxy evolution needs to be studied with IR data; we found that observations at shorter wavelengths appear to have missed a large fraction of the star-formation in galaxies, due to dust reddening. We will also obtain deep F110W and F160W images, to examine the space densities and morphologies of faint red galaxies. In addition to carrying out the public parallels, we will make the fully reduced and calibrated images and spectra available on-line, with some ground-based data for the deepest parallel fields included. NIC1/NIC2/NIC3 10381 Photometric Stability This NICMOS calibration proposal carries out photometric monitoring observations during Cycle 13. The format of the program is identical to that of the Cycle 12 program 9995 NIC1/NIC2/NIC3 8794 NICMOS Post-SAA calibration - CR Persistence Part 5 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 images. Each observation will need its own CRMAP, as different SAA passages leave different imprints on the NICMOS detectors. NIC2 10173 Infrared Snapshots of 3CR Radio Galaxies Radio galaxies are an important class of extragalactic objects: they are one of the most energetic astrophysical phenomena and they provide an exceptional probe of the evolving Universe, lying typically in high density regions but well-represented across a wide redshift range. In earlier Cycles we carried out extensive HST observations of the 3CR sources in order to acquire a complete and quantitative inventory of the structure, contents and evolution of these important objects. Amongst the results, we discovered new optical jets, dust lanes, face-on disks with optical jets, and revealed point-like nuclei whose properties support FR-I/BL Lac unified schemes. Here, we propose to obtain NICMOS infrared images of 3CR sources with z0.3 as a major enhancement to an already superb dataset. We aim to deshroud dusty galaxies, study the underlying host galaxy free from the distorting effects of dust, locate hidden regions of star formation and establish the physical characteristics of the dust itself. We will measure frequency and spectral energy distributions of point-like nuclei, expected to be stronger and more prevalent in the IR, seek spectral turnovers in known synchrotron jets and find new jets. We will strongly test unified AGN schemes and merge these data with existing X-ray to radio observations. The resulting database will be an incredibly valuable resource to the astronomical community for years to come. S/C 10358 Guide Star Test for program 10265 Guide Star Test for program 10265. 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.) HSTAR 9591- Loss of Lock during guiding. PCS trending review revealed a loss of lock during guiding. Loss of Lock occurred at 299/09:15:15 following a successful GSAcq (1,2,1) at 08:42. ACS observations may have been effected. HSTAR 9592- Loss of Lock during guiding. PCS trending review revealed a loss of lock during guiding. Loss of Lock occurred at 288/18:06:04 following a successful GSAcq (1,2,2) at 17:32. ACS, NICMOS, and WFPC2 were taking observations at the time. COMPLETED OPS REQs: 17300-1 FSW 2.6C RAM Installation @314/2359z OPS NOTES EXECUTED: 1284-0 Load Quick Update CCLs to G String Ops @314/2321z 1283-0 Set DS1PSAV Limit @314/2323z 1285-0 Set DS1PSAV Yellow Limit @314/2329z SCHEDULED SUCCESSFUL FAILURE TIMES FGS Gsacq 05 05 FGS Reacq 10 10 FHST Update 07 07 LOSS of LOCK SIGNIFICANT EVENTS: FSW 2.6 Release C was successfully installed in HST486 RAM (Ops Request 17300-1). The 2.6C RAM loads were completed at 314/15:06:13 and "preSave" table dump was collected @ 314/15:43:55. The FSW 2.6C was activated at the next 'patch operation' opportunity @ 314/22:47:15. The transition to OPS PRD 6.5.02 was completed @ 314/22:48:09. The post-installation RAM memory dump was completed at 315/00:00:29 and verified by FSW. Telemetry was monitored for 1 orbit following the 2.6C activation and everything was nominal. The 2.6C EEPROM installation will be performed on Wednesday, 11/10/04, starting at 315/12:53:55. |
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