#1
|
|||
|
|||
Daily 3606
HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE - Continuing to collect World Class Science
DAILY REPORT # 3606 PERIOD COVERED: DOY 126 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED ACS 9476 Galaxy Evolution in the Richest Clusters at z=0.8: the EDisCS Cluster Sample The study of distant cluster galaxies requires two key ingredients: {1} deep high-resolution imaging, to constrain galaxy structure; and {2} 8m-class spectroscopy, to measure stellar content, star-formation rates, dynamics, and cluster membership. We will reach both conditions with the addition of HST/ACS imaging to our suite of VLT {36 nights} and NTT {20 nights} observations of 10 confirmed clusters at z~0.8, drawn from the ESO Distant Cluster Survey {EDisCS}. The proposed HST/ACS data will complement our existing optical/IR imaging and spectroscopy with quantitative measures of cluster galaxy morphologies {i.e. sizes and shapes, bulge-disk decompositions, asymmetry parameters}, and with measurements of cluster masses via weak lensing. Major advantages unique to the EDisCS project include: {i} uniform selection of clusters; {ii} large enough sample sizes to characterize the substantial cluster-to-cluster variation in galaxy populations; {iii} large quantities of high quality data from 8m telescopes; {iv} uniform measurements of morphologies, spectroscopic and photometric redshifts, SEDs, star-formation/AGN activities, and internal kinematics; {v} optical selection of clusters to complement the X-ray selection of almost all high-z clusters in the ACS GTO programs; {vi} forefront numerical simulations designed specifically to allow physical interpretation of observed differences between the high-z and local clusters. ACS/HRC/WFC 10060 CCD Daily Monitor This program consists of basic tests to monitor, the read noise, the development of hot pixels and test for any source of noise in ACS CCD detectors. This programme will be executed once a day for the entire lifetime of ACS. ACS/STIS/MA2 9829 HST / Chandra Monitoring of a Dramatic Flare in the M87 Jet As the nearest galaxy with an optical jet, M87 affords an unparalleled opportunity to study extragalactic jet phenomena at the highest resolution. During 2002, HST and Chandra monitoring of the M87 jet have detected a dramatic flare in knot HST-1 located ~1" from the nucleus. Its brightness has increased ten-fold in the optical band, and continues to increase, and the X-rays show a similarly dramatic outburst. In both bands this HST-1 now rivals the nucleus in brightness. To our knowledge this is the first incidence of an optical or X-ray outburst from a jet region which is spatially distinct from the core source; this presents an unprecedented opportunity to study the processes responsible for non-thermal variability and the X-ray emission. We propose four epochs of HST/ACS monitoring during Cycle 12, as well as seven epochs of Chandra/ACIS observation {5ksec each}. We also include a brief STIS observation that will be used with prior STIS data to measure proper motions, and ACS polarimetry to map the magnetic field structure. The results of this investigation are of key importance not only for understanding the nature of the X-ray emission of the M87 jet, but also for understanding flares in blazar jets, which are highly variable, but where we have never before been able to resolve the flaring region in the optical or X-rays. These observations will allow us to test synchrotron emission models for the X-ray outburst, constrain particle acceleration and loss timescales, and study the jet dynamics associated with this flaring component. ACS/WFC 9727 Exploration of the SN Ia Hubble Diagram at z 1.2 In the spirit of a Treasury proposal, we propose to organize, and deliver to the astronomical community, non-proprietary follow-up observations of ~10 Type Ia supernovae at 1z1.7 that are expected to be discovered in a Cycle 12 Treasury proposal. Together with the currently available sample, this would provide a Hubble diagram with over 20 SNe Ia in this redshift range, where it is possible to test the current cosmological model in the epoch of deceleration: If z ~ 0.5 SNe Ia are fainter due to evolution rather than an accelerating expansion, they should continue to get fainter at even higher redshifts. This size sample will show trends and outliers, and permit a more rigorous treatment of the asymmetric amplification distribution from gravitational lensing. This is a key redshift range for the studies of dark energy that will be done with future surveys {and future instruments now being designed}; this dataset will lay the ground-work for these studies by establishing the simple properties of the supernovae in this redshift range, including magnitudes, colors, and timescales. If considered more appropriate, this proposal could be treated as a part of a Treasury or Director's Discretionary program, since the data would be available to everybody immediately, and we would welcome others who would want to work with us on it. ACS/WFC 9766 The Globular Cluster Systems of Spiral Galaxies along the Hubble Sequence While the globular cluster {GC} systems of ellipticals and ongoing mergers have been relatively well-studied with HST, very little is known about the GC systems of spirals besides the Milky Way and M31. To constrain GC/galaxy formation models, especially where spirals are the merger progenitors of ellipticals, it is crucial to understand their GC properties. We propose to obtain ACS images of three edge-on spirals, spanning the Hubble sequence, with Keck spectroscopic follow-up. This will effectively double the number of well-studied spiral systems. We will detect 100-200 GCs per galaxy, sufficient to reveal GC subpopulations, their relative numbers, radial trends, and dependences on Hubble type {e.g., a bulge vs. disk origin for red GCs}. For half of our GCs we will be able to measure individual sizes. By providing a much-needed comparative benchmark, these data will allow researchers to better exploit the large existing HST database of GCs in E/S0 galaxies. ACS/WFC 9899 Geometrical Distance of NGC 2808 and NGC 6752 This is a proposal to establish a globular cluster distance scale of unprecedented accuracy and reliability, with far-reaching impact on the distance scales of cosmology. Our method is to compare internal dispersion proper motions with ground-based determination of the dispersion of the radial velocities {with time already allocated at VLT}. The prospect is a geometrically based distance with an accuracy of better than 2%. Results already in hand for M4 and 47 Tuc, establish our ability to make such measurements of proper motions. Our projects has two parts: {1} use archival observation for both epochs when available, {2} The present proposal cover an external field of NGC 2808 and give a second epoch for the cluster NGC6752. Thanks to the ACS features, we will be able to extend the sample in just 2-4 orbits. ACS/WFC/WFPC2 9822 The COSMOS 2-Degree ACS Survey We will undertake a 2 square degree imaging survey {Cosmic Evolution Survey -- COSMOS} with ACS in the I {F814W} band of the VIMOS equatorial field. This wide field survey is essential to understand the interplay between Large Scale Structure {LSS} evolution and the formation of galaxies, dark matter and AGNs and is the one region of parameter space completely unexplored at present by HST. The equatorial field was selected for its accessibility to all ground-based telescopes and low IR background and because it will eventually contain ~100, 000 galaxy spectra from the VLT-VIMOS instrument. The imaging will detect over 2 million objects with I 27 mag {AB, 10 sigma}, over 35, 000 Lyman Break Galaxies {LBGs} and extremely red galaxies out to z ~ 5. COSMOS is the only HST project specifically designed to probe the formation and evolution of structures ranging from galaxies up to Coma-size clusters in the epoch of peak galaxy, AGN, star and cluster formation {z ~0.5 to 3}. The size of the largest structures necessitate the 2 degree field. Our team is committed to the assembly of several public ancillary datasets including the optical spectra, deep XMM and VLA imaging, ground-based optical/IR imaging, UV imaging from GALEX and IR data from SIRTF. Combining the full-spectrum multiwavelength imaging and spectroscopic coverage with ACS sub-kpc resolution, COSMOS will be Hubble's ultimate legacy for understanding the evolution of both the visible and dark universe. NIC/NIC3 9865 The NICMOS Parallel Observing Program 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 8792 NICMOS Post-SAA calibration - CR Persistence Part 3 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 9856 A near-IR imaging survey of submm galaxies with spectroscopic redshifts Submillimeter {submm} surveys with SCUBA have identified a population of obscured star-forming and active galaxies at high redshift. Our recent spectroscopic campaigns with the Keck-10m telescope have uncovered redshifts for 37 SCUBA galaxies. The wide redshift range of the radio identified submm population {z=1-4} implies that many varieties of sources driven by different physical processes may be selected in a submm survey. We propose to use HST-NICMOS, ACS to obtain 2-filter images of a sample of 15 SCUBA galaxies with redshifts spanning z=0.8-3.5. Our goal is to understand what physical process {major mergers?} drive their strong evolution and great luminosities, and what the implications are for galaxy evolution models. NIC3 9999 The COSMOS 2-Degree ACS Survey NICMOS Parallels The COSMOS 2-Degree ACS Survey NICMOS Parallels. This program is a companion to program 9822. STIS/CCD 10018 CCD Dark Monitor-Part 2 Monitor the darks for the STIS CCD. STIS/CCD 10020 CCD Bias Monitor - Part 2 Monitor the bias in the 1x1, 1x2, 2x1, and 2x2 bin settings at gain=1, and 1x1 at gain = 4, to build up high-S/N superbiases and track the evolution of hot columns. WFPC2 10070 WFPC2 CYCLE 12 Supplemental Darks Part 2/3 This dark calibration program obtains 3 dark frames every day to provide data for monitoring and characterizing the evolution of hot pixels. FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY: Significant Spacecraft Anomalies: (The following are preliminary reports of potential non-nominal performance that will be investigated.) None COMPLETED OPS REQs: None OPS NOTES EXECUTED: 1234-0 TDW Cross-support tracking (T77 CODE) @ 126/1951z 1234-0 TDW Cross-support tracking (T77 CODE) @ 127/0217z SCHEDULED SUCCESSFUL FAILURE TIMES FGS GSacq 09 09 FGS REacq 06 06 FHST Update 13 13 LOSS of LOCK SIGNIFICANT EVENTS: None |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Monitoring NASA Daily ISS Report | JimO | Space Station | 2 | June 1st 04 10:33 PM |
JimO Speaks on 'Daily Planet' re Hubble | JimO | Policy | 0 | February 11th 04 10:53 PM |
Spirit's daily activities schedule? | Matti Anttila | Policy | 0 | January 15th 04 08:39 AM |
best site for daily schedule of rover activity? | bob | History | 2 | January 5th 04 12:16 PM |
Investor's Business Daily: Rethinking NASA | dougk | Policy | 1 | August 28th 03 12:07 AM |