Daily Report #4631

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE - Continuing to collect World Class Science

DAILY REPORT #4631

PERIOD COVERED: 5am June 12 - 5am June 13, 2008 (DOY 164/0900z-165/0900z)

OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED

FGS 11213

Distances to Eclipsing M Dwarf Binaries

We propose HST FGS observations to measure accurate distances of 5 nearby M
dwarf eclipsing binary systems, from which model-independent luminosities
can be calculated. These objects have either poor or no existing parallax
measurements. FGS parallax determinations for these systems, with their
existing dynamic masses determined to better than 0.5%, would serve as
model-independent anchor points for the low-mass end of the mass-luminosity
diagram.

NIC1/NIC2/NIC3 8795

NICMOS Post-SAA Calibration - CR Persistence Part 6

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/WFPC2 11142

Revealing the Physical Nature of Infrared Luminous Galaxies at 0.3z2.7
Using HST and Spitzer

We aim to determine physical properties of IR luminous galaxies at
0.3z2.7 by requesting coordinated HST/NIC2 and MIPS 70um observations
of a unique, 24um flux-limited sample with complete Spitzer mid-IR
spectroscopy. The 150 sources investigated in this program have S{24um}
0.8mJy and their mid-IR spectra have already provided the majority
targets with spectroscopic redshifts {0.3z2.7}. The proposed 150~orbits of
NIC2 and 66~hours of MIPS 70um will provide the physical measurements of the
light distribution at the rest-frame ~8000A and better estimates of the
bolometric luminosity. Combining these parameters together with the rich
suite of spectral diagnostics from the mid-IR spectra, we will {1} measure
how common mergers are among LIRGs and ULIRGs at 0.3z2.7, and establish if
major mergers are the drivers of z1 ULIRGs, as in the local Universe. {2}
study the co-evolution of star formation and blackhole accretion by
investigating the relations between the fraction of starburst/AGN measured
from mid-IR spectra vs. HST morphologies, L{bol} and z. {3} obtain the
current best estimates of the far-IR emission, thus L{bol} for this sample,
and establish if the relative contribution of mid-to-far IR dust emission is
correlated with morphology {resolved vs. unresolved}.

NIC3 11107

Imaging of Local Lyman Break Galaxy Analogs: New Clues to Galaxy Formation
in the Early Universe

We have used the ultraviolet all-sky imaging survey currently being
conducted by the Galaxy Evolution Explorer {GALEX} to identify for the first
time a rare population of low-redshift starbursts with properties remarkably
similar to high-redshift Lyman Break Galaxies {LBGs}. These "compact UV
luminous galaxies" {UVLGs} resemble LBGs in terms of size, SFR, surface
brightness, mass, metallicity, kinematics, dust, and color. The UVLG sample
offers the unique opportunity of investigating some very important
properties of LBGs that have remained virtually inaccessible at high
redshift: their morphology and the mechanism that drives their star
formation. Therefore, in Cycle 15 we have imaged 7 UVLGs using ACS in order
to 1} characterize their morphology and look for signs of interactions and
mergers, and 2} probe their star formation histories over a variety of
timescales. The images show a striking trend of small- scale mergers turning
large amounts of gas into vigorous starbursts {a process referred to as
dissipational or "wet" merging}. Here, we propose to complete our sample of
31 LBG analogs using the ACS/SBC F150LP {FUV} and WFPC2 F606W {R} filters in
order to create a statistical sample to study the mechanism that triggers
star formation in UVLGs and its implications for the nature of LBGs.
Specifically, we will 1} study the trend between galaxy merging and SFR in
UVLGs, 2} artificially redshift the FUV images to z=1-4 and compare
morphologies with those in similarly sized samples of LBGs at the same
rest-frame wavelengths in e.g. GOODS, UDF, and COSMOS, 3} determine the
presence and morphology of significant stellar mass in "pre- burst" stars,
and 4} study their immediate environment. Together with our Spitzer
{IRAC+MIPS}, GALEX, SDSS and radio data, the HST observations will form a
unique union of data that may for the first time shed light on how the
earliest major episodes of star formation in high redshift galaxies came
about. This proposal was adapted from an ACS HRC+WFC proposal to meet the
new Cycle 16 observing constraints, and can be carried out using the ACS/SBC
and WFPC2 without compromising our original science goals.

WFPC2 11222

Direct Detection and Mapping of Star Forming Regions in Nearby, Luminous
Quasars

We propose to carry out narrow-band emission line imaging observations of 8
quasars at z=0.05-0.15 with the WFPC2 ramp filters and with the NICMOS
narrow-band filters. We will obtain images in the [O II], [O III], H-beta,
and Pa-alpha emission line bands to carry out a series of diagnostic tests
aimed at detecting and mapping out star-forming regions in the quasar host
galaxies. This direct detection of star-forming regions will confirm
indirect indications for star formation in quasar host galaxies. It will
provide a crucial test for models of quasar and galaxy evolution, that
predict the co-existence of starbursts and "monsters" and will solve the
puzzle of why different indicators of star formation give contradictory
results. A secondary science goal is to assess suggested correlations
between quasar luminosity and the size of the narrow-line region.

FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

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

HSTARS: (None)

COMPLETED OPS REQUEST: (None)

COMPLETED OPS NOTES: (None)

SCHEDULED SUCCESSFUL

FGS GSacq 03 03
FGS REacq 11 11
OBAD with Maneuver 28 28

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS: (None)