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Daily Report #4629



 
 
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Old June 11th 08, 04:19 PM posted to sci.astro.hubble
Cooper, Joe
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Default Daily Report #4629

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE - Continuing to collect World Class Science

DAILY REPORT # 4629

PERIOD COVERED: 5am June 10 - 5am June 11, 2008 (DOY 162/0900z-163/0900z)

OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED

NIC1/NIC2 11155

Dust Grain Evolution in Herbig Ae Stars: NICMOS Coronagraphic Imaging and
Polarimetry

We propose to take advantage of the sensitive coronagraphic capabilities of
NICMOS to obtain multiwavelength coronagraphic imaging and polarimetry of
primordial dust disks around young intermediate-mass stars {Herbig Ae
stars}, in order to advance our understanding of how dust grains are
assembled into larger bodies. Because the polarization of scattered light is
strongly dependent on scattering particle size and composition,
coronagraphic imaging polarimetry with NICMOS provides a uniquely powerful
tool for measuring grain properties in spatially resolved circumstellar
disks. It is widely believed that planets form via the gradual accretion of
planetesimals in gas-rich, dusty circumstellar disks, but the connection
between this suspected process and the circumstellar disks that we can now
observe around other stars remains very uncertain. Our proposed
observations, together with powerful 3-D radiative transfer codes, will
enable us to quantitatively determine dust grain properties as a function of
location within disks, and thus to test whether dust grains around young
stars are in fact growing in size during the putative planet-formation
epoch. HST imaging polarimetry of Herbig Ae stars will complement and extend
existing polarimetric studies of disks around lower-mass T Tauri stars and
debris disks around older main-sequence stars. When combined with these
previous studies, the proposed research will help us establish the influence
of stellar mass on the growth of dust grains into larger planetesimals, and
ultimately to planets. Our results will also let us calibrate models of the
thermal emission from these disks, a critical need for validating the
properties of more distant disks inferred on the basis of spectral
information alone.

NIC1/NIC2/NIC3 11318

NICMOS Cycle 16 Multiaccum Darks

The purpose of this proposal is to monitor the dark current, read noise, and
shading profile for all three NICMOS detectors throughout the duration of
Cycle 16. This proposal is a slightly modified version of proposal 10380 of
cycle 13 and 9993 of cycle12 and is the same as Cycle 15. Covers the period
from April 08 to November 08 (inclusive)

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}.

WFPC2 11129

The Star Formation History of the Fornax Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy

The Fornax dwarf spheroidal galaxy is one of the most luminous dwarf
satellites of the Milky Way. It is unusual in many ways: it hosts 5 globular
clusters, shows some relatively young stars, and has faint sub-structures
which have been interpreted as signs of recent interactions. It is thus of
great interest to learn the complete star formation history {SFH} of Fornax
to establish a link between its evolutionary path and the predictions from
numerical simulations, as a test of our understanding of dwarf galaxy
evolution. Yet many questions remain open. Is the old stellar population
made up of stars formed in a very early burst, perhaps before the epoch of
re-ionization, or the result of a more continuous star formation between 13
and 9 Gyr ago ? How quickly did Fornax increase its metallicity during its
initial assembly and during subsequent episodes of star formation ? Are
accretion episodes required to explain the age-metallicity history of Fornax
? However, there has never been a comprehensive study of the global SFH of
the Fornax field based on data of sufficient depth to unambiguously measure
the age mixture of the stellar populations and their spatial variation. We
propose to use the WFPC2 to obtain very deep images in several fields across
the central region of Fornax in order to reach the oldest main-sequence
turnoffs. The number of fields is determined by the need to measure the SFH
over different regions with distinct kinematics and metallicity. The
resolution achievable with HST is crucial to answer these questions because,
to derive the age distribution of the oldest stars, we are interested in I
magnitude differences of the order 0.2 mag in crowded fields at V=24.5. We
will directly measure the time variation in star-formation rate over the
entire galaxy history, from first stars coeval with the Milky Way halo to
the youngest populations 200 Myr ago. The combination of detailed CMD
analysis with WFPC2 with our existing metallicity and kinematic information
will allow us to trace out the early phases of its evolution.

WFPC2 11235

HST NICMOS Survey of the Nuclear Regions of Luminous Infrared Galaxies in
the Local Universe

At luminosities above 10^11.4 L_sun, the space density of far-infrared
selected galaxies exceeds that of optically selected galaxies. These
`luminous infrared galaxies' {LIRGs} are primarily interacting or merging
disk galaxies undergoing enhanced star formation and Active Galactic Nuclei
{AGN} activity, possibly triggered as the objects transform into massive S0
and elliptical merger remnants. We propose NICMOS NIC2 imaging of the
nuclear regions of a complete sample of 88 L_IR 10^11.4 L_sun luminous
infrared galaxies in the IRAS Revised Bright Galaxy Sample {RBGS: i.e., 60
micron flux density 5.24 Jy}. This sample is ideal not only in its
completeness and sample size, but also in the proximity and brightness of
the galaxies. The superb sensitivity and resolution of NICMOS NIC2 on HST
enables a unique opportunity to study the detailed structure of the nuclear
regions, where dust obscuration may mask star clusters, AGN and additional
nuclei from optical view, with a resolution significantly higher than
possible with Spitzer IRAC. This survey thus provides a crucial component to
our study of the dynamics and evolution of IR galaxies presently underway
with Wide-Field, HST ACS/WFC and Spitzer IRAC observations of these 88
galaxies. Imaging will be done with the F160W filter {H-band} to examine as
a function of both luminosity and merger stage {i} the luminosity and
distribution of embedded star clusters, {ii} the presence of optically
obscured AGN and nuclei, {iii} the correlation between the distribution of
1.6 micron emission and the mid- IR emission as detected by Spitzer IRAC,
{iv} the evidence of bars or bridges that may funnel fuel into the nuclear
region, and {v} the ages of star clusters for which photometry is available
via ACS/WFC observations. The NICMOS data, combined with the HST ACS,
Spitzer, and GALEX observations of this sample, will result in the most
comprehensive study of merging and interacting galaxies to date.

WFPC2 11340

X-ray Observations of 11 Millisecond Pulsars in M28

We propose a deep X-ray survey of the globular cluster M28 which will yield
a wealth of important and unique science, ranging from the first direct
measurement of the magnetic field of a millisecond pulsar and constraints on
the neutron star equation of state to likely X-ray/optical (HST) detection
of a re-exchanged binary MSP. The proposed joint HST WFPC2 observation will
tie the X-ray, optical, and radio data to a common astrometric frame
allowing an unambiguous identification of numerous cataclysmic variables and
active binaries in M28 as well as making possible the first direct optical
detection of a millisecond pulsar.

FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

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

HSTARS:

11334 - REAcq(2,1,2) failed to RGA Hold (Gyro Control)

Upon acquisition of signal at 162/12:34:30, REAcq(2,1,2) scheduled at
162/12:30:52 - 12:38:57 was observed to have failed to RGA Hold due to stop
flag (QF2STOPF) on FGS-2. Pre-acq OBAD1 attitude correction (RSS) value was
not available due to LOS. OBAD2 had (RSS) value of 5.48 arcseconds. Post-acq
OBAD/MAP had (RSS) value of 13.10 arcseconds. Prior GSAcq(2,1,2) at
162/10:55:26 was successful.

Possible Observations Affected: WFPCII 87 thru 91, Proposal # 11340. NICMOS
19, 20, Proposal # 11318

At AOS 162/14:17:45, subsequent REAcq(2,1,2) at 162/14:06:46 also failed to
RGA Hold due to stop flag on FGS-2.

Observations Affected: WFPC 92 thru 96 Proposal # 11340. NICMOS 24, 25
Proposal # 11318

11335 - NICMOS Status Buffer Message

Parameter=1, Time= 4274; NIC in Operate mode; next obs at 163/05:28:10z.#668
indicates MECH_UNSTABLE_INDUCTOSYN Description: "While verifying the
mechanical position following a mechanism movement, consecutive position
calculations give inconsistent values. This indicates the inductosyn coarse
and fine positions are changing. "FSW Action: Status Buffer Message ERROR
Parameter indicates: Mechanism no. (FW1=0, FW2=1, FW3=2, FOMX=3, FOMY=4).
Ground Action: None.

Obs might be affected: NIC #26-28 of Proposal #11155.

Ops Request 18241-0, to reset the NICMOS error counter, was successfully
executed at 162/19:35:45.

COMPLETED OPS REQUEST:

18241-0 - Execute ROP NS-11 Reset NICMOS Error Counter @ 162/1935z

COMPLETED OPS NOTES: (None)

SCHEDULED SUCCESSFUL

FGS GSacq 06 06
FGS REacq 08 06
OBAD with Maneuver 28 27

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS: (None)

 




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