Daily # 4295

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE - Continuing to collect World Class Science

DAILY REPORT # 4295

PERIOD COVERED: UT February 07, 2007 (DOY 038)

OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED

NIC2 10858

NICMOS Imaging of the z ~ 2 Spitzer Spectroscopic Sample of
Ultraluminous Infrared Galaxies

We propose to obtain NICMOS images of the first large sample of high-z
ultra-luminous infrared galaxies {ULIRGs} whose redshifts and physical
states have been determined with Spitzer mid-IR spectra. The detection
of strong silicate absorption and/or PAH emission lines suggest that
the these sources are a mixture of highly obscured starbursts, AGNs
and composite systems at z=2. Although some of the spectra show PAH
emission similar to local starburst ULIRGs, their bolometric
luminosities are roughly an order of magnitude higher. One important
question is if major mergers, which are the trigger for 95% of local
ULIRGs, also drive this enormous energy output observed in our z=2
sample. The NICMOS images will allow us to {1} measure surface
brightness profiles of z~2 ULIRGs and establish if major mergers could
be common among our luminous sources at these early epochs, {2}
determine if starbursts and AGNs classified based on their mid-IR
spetra would have different morphological signatures, thus different
dynamic state; {3} make comparisons with the similar studies of ULIRGs
at z ~ 0 - 1, thus infer any evolutionary connections between high-z
ULIRGs and the formation of normal, massive galaxies and quasars
observed today.

NIC1/NIC2/NIC3 8795

NICMOS Post-SAA calibration - CR Persistence Part 6

A new proceedure proposed to alleviate the CR-persistence problem of
NICMOS. Dark frames will be obtained immediately upon exiting the SAA
contour 23, and everytime 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 i mages. Each observation will need its
own CRMAP, as different SAA passages leave different imprints on the
NICMOS detectors.

NIC2 10802

SHOES-Supernovae, HO, for the Equation of State of Dark energy

The present uncertainty in the value of the Hubble constant {resulting
in an uncertainty in Omega_M} and the paucity of Type Ia supernovae at
redshifts exceeding 1 are now the leading obstacles to determining the
nature of dark energy. We propose a single, integrated set of
observations for Cycle 15 that will provide a 40% improvement in
constraints on dark energy. This program will observe known Cepheids
in six reliable hosts of Type Ia supernovae with NICMOS, reducing the
uncertainty in H_0 by a factor of two because of the smaller
dispersion along the instability strip, the diminished extinction, and
the weaker metallicity dependence in the infrared. In parallel with
ACS, at the same time the NICMOS observations are underway, we will
discover and follow a sample of Type Ia supernovae at z 1. Together,
these measurements, along with prior constraints from WMAP, will
provide a great improvement in HST's ability to distinguish between a
static, cosmological constant and dynamical dark energy. The Hubble
Space Telescope is the only instrument in the world that can make
these IR measurements of Cepheids beyond the Local Group, and it is
the only telescope in the world that can be used to find and follow
supernovae at z 1. Our program exploits both of these unique
capabilities of HST to learn more about one of the greatest mysteries
in science.

NIC3/NIC1/NIC2 11059

Flats Stability

This calibration proposal is the Cycle 15 NICMOS flat field monitor
program. A series of camera 1, 2, & 3 flat fields will be obtained to
monitor the health of the cameras.

NIC3/NIC2/NIC1 11086

Mini-SMOV NICMOS dark current, shading profile, and read noise program

The purpose of this proposal is to study the dark current, read noise,
and shading profile for all three NICMOS detectors after the NICMOS
starts operating due to safing. This proposal is a version of the
NICMOS monitoring program.

WFPC2 11090

Hubble Heritage Observations of PNe with WFPC2

This is a proposal for observation of a set of PNe using a common
WFPC2 observation sequence.

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 04 04
FGS REacq 07 07
OBAD with Maneuver 22 22

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS: (None)