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Daily 3574
HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE - Continuing to collect World Class Science
DAILY REPORT # 3574 PERIOD COVERED: DOYs 79-81 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED 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. ACS/HRC 9976 The Parallaxes and Proper Motions of Two Nearby Neutron Stars We propose to measure the parallax of two nearby neutron stars to the highest possible level of accuracy, ~.0.5 mas. The primary goal is to determine the neutron-star radius at infinity with better than 1 km precision, and therewith obtain a direct constraint on the equation of state of matter at supra-nuclear density. The required flux and temperature determinations are easiest for the so-called isolated or radio-quiet neutron stars because of their apparently completely thermal spectrum. We argue that the importance of the possible results warrants a study to the best possible level of the best possible sources, and request 24 orbits for the two brightest isolated neutron stars, RX J1856.5-3754 and RX J0720.4-3125. We will also determine whether the enigmatic RX J0720.4-3125 is an old magnetar or an accreting source, based on its luminosity and proper motion. ACS/HRC 9974 Mid-Ultraviolet Spectral Templates for Old Stellar Systems We propose a three-year program to provide both observational and theoretical mid-ultraviolet {2300A -- 3100A} spectral templates for interpreting the age and metallicity of globular clusters and elliptical galaxies from spectra of their integrated light. The mid-UV is the region most directly influenced by stellar age, and is observed directly in optical and infrared studies of high-redshift quiescent systems. The reliability of age and metallicity determinations remains questionable until non-solar metallicities and abundance ratios are considered, and stars spanning the color-magnitude diagram are included, as we propose here. With archival HST STIS spectra we have improved the list of mid-UV atomic line parameters, then calculated spectra from first principles which match observed spectra of standard stars up to one- fourth solar metallicity. We will extend both observations and calculations to stars of solar metallicity and beyond, and to those in short-lived stages hotter than the main-sequence turnoff, stars not currently well-represented in empirical libraries. The necessary line-list improvements will come from new high-resolution mid-UV spectra of nine field stars. A key application of the results of this program will be to the old systems now being discovered as `Extremely Red Objects' at high redshifts. Reliable age-dating of these places constraints on the epoch when large structures first formed in the universe. FGS 9972 Calibrating the Mass-Luminosity Relation at the End of the Main Sequence We propose to use HST-FGS1R to calibrate the mass-luminosity relation {MLR} for stars less massive than 0.2 Msun, with special emphasis on objects near the stellar/brown dwarf border. Our goals are to determine M_V values to 0.05 magnitude, masses to 5 than double the number of objects with masses determined to be less than 0.20 Msun. This program uses the combination of HST-FGS3/FGS1R at optical wavelengths and ground-based infrared interferometry to examine nearby, subarcsecond binary systems. As a result of these measurements, we are deriving high quality luminosities and masses for the components in the observed systems, and characterizing their spectral energy distributions from 0.5 to 2.2 Mum. Several of the objects included have M 0.1 Msun, placing them at the very end of the stellar main sequence. Three of the targets are brown dwarf candidates, including the current low mass record holder, GJ 1245C, with a mass of 0.062 +/- 0.004 Msun. The payoff of this proposal is high because all 10 of the systems selected have already been resolved with HST- FGS3/FGS1R during Cycles 5--10 and contain most of the reddest objects for which masses can be determined. ACS/HRC/WFC 9919 The Morphological, Photometric, and Spectroscopic Properties of Intermediate Redshift Cluster Galaxies: New and fundamental constraints on the evolutionary state of high redshift clusters will be made by obtaining deep, multiband images {SDSS r, i, z} over the central 1.5 Mpc regions of seven distant clusters in the range 0.76 z 1.27. The ACS data will allow us to {1} definitively establish the morphological composition and star formation rates as functions of clustercentric radius, local density, x-ray luminosity {obtained from accompanying Chandra, and XMM data}, {2} explore the relationship between substructure, kinematics, and morphology, {3} strongly constrain the galaxy merger frequency and the origins of elliptical and S0 galaxies, {4} measure the mass distribution independently from the light {via gravitational lensing} enabling comparisons with kinematically derived masses, and {5} study the evolution of the structure of the brightest cluster members. The clusters selected for this program already have extensive spectroscopic observations and NIR imaging is either in hand or underway from approved ground based programs. To date, the lower part of this redshift range has only been marginally studied with HST. Our sample includes the two most distant, spectroscopically confirmed superclusters and will significantly increase the baseline over which evolutionary effects can be studied. The data will also be used to identify very high-z galaxies via their unique spectral properties. ACS/WFC 9892 H-alpha Snapshots of Nearby Galaxies observed in F300W: Quantifying Star Formation in a Dusty Universe Previous studies of nearby galaxies show large discrepancies between different star formation {SF} indicators on large {100 pc, or even global} scales: the strikingly complex interplay of young stars, dust and ionized gas are the primary cause of this variance. The few galaxies in the HST Archive with both WFPC2 H-alpha and mid-UV {F255W or F300W} imaging show this complex geometry extending down to 10 pc scales. We propose a SNAPshot survey in the ACS/WFC H-alpha filter of 48 galaxies of all Hubble types, that are nearby but beyond the Local Group, and that were previously imaged with WFPC2 in the mid-UV and in F814W. We aim to provide a benchmark for understanding the SF processes in both normal and star-bursting galaxies, at spatial resolutions unattainable from the ground for a large and varied galaxy sample. These data can be applied to a wide range of astrophysical problems and will, therefore, be made public immediately. Our science goals are to: {1} spatially resolve the dust clouds and filaments which strongly affect mid-UV and H-alpha derived SF rates, {2} test how the large-scale correlation between H-alpha and mid-UV flux breaks down on pc scales, and {3} model the propagation of star formation by comparing the SF over time scales of ~100 Myr {via mid-UV} and ~5 Myr {via H-alpha}. This will {4} significantly improve our insight into, and calibration of SF in UV-bright galaxies at high z, and into the cosmic SF history. FGS 9879 An Astrometric Calibration of the Cepheid Period-Luminosity Relation We propose to measure the parallaxes of 10 Galactic Cepheid variables. When these parallaxes {with 1-sigma precisions of 10% or better} are added to our recent HST FGS parallax determination of delta Cep {Benedict et al 2002}, we anticipate determining the Period-Luminosity relation zero point with a 0.03 mag precision. In addition to permitting the test of assumptions that enter into other Cepheid distance determination techniques, this calibration will reintroduce Galactic Cepheids as a fundamental step in the extragalactic distance scale ladder. A Period-Luminosity relation derived from solar metallicity Cepheids can be applied directly to extragalactic solar metallicity Cepheids, removing the need to bridge with the Large Magellanic Cloud and its associated metallicity complications. 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. ACS/HRC 9851 Host Galaxies of Reverberation-Mapped AGNs We propose to obtain unsaturated ACS high-resolution images of all reverberation-mapped active galactic nuclei in order to remove the point-like nuclear light from each image, thus yielding a "nucleus-free" image of the host galaxy. This will allow investigation of host-galaxy properties: our particular interest is determination of the host-galaxy starlight contribution to the reverberation mapping observations, which is necessary for accurate determination of the relationship between the AGN continuum flux and the size of the broad Balmer-line emitting region of AGNs. Because this relationship is used to estimate black-hole masses of large samples of distant AGNs, correct determination of the slope of this relationship is critically important. 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. WFPC2 9817 The mass of the Milky Way: orbits for Leo I and Leo II Constraining the mass of the galaxy at large radii remains a difficult problem. Available data are still rather scarce, and orbits of even a few objects at large radii can have a large impact. We propose to obtain proper motions for the two satellites Leo I and Leo II, which orbit the Galaxy at about 200kpc. Together with the radial velocities of these galaxies, which are well-known, the proper motions allow space velocities to be constructed: these can remove significant uncertainty in the Galactic mass models, and in particular settle the vexed question whether Leo I is gravitationally bound to the Galaxy or not. ACS/WFC 9811 Establishing the Metallicity Distribution in Normal Giant Ellipticals NGC 3377 and 3379, the Leo Group ellipticals at d=11 Mpc, are the nearest E galaxies commonly regarded to be structurally "normal", and as such, they are keystone objects for understanding the evolution and early star formation history of large ellipticals. The ACS/WFC camera now gives us the ability to obtain the metallicity distribution function {MDF} of their stellar population by direct resolution and photometry of their halo stars. To do this, we will follow the same highly successful techniques we have previously used for NGC 5128 with WFPC2 {V, I} imaging: the {V-I} colors of the brightest red-giant stars are highly sensitive to metallicity, and their locations in the color-magnitude diagram can be used for direct construction of the MDF. This will be a major step forward to understanding the formation history of these cosmologically dominant galaxies. STIS 9786 The Next Generation Spectral Library We propose to continue the Cycle 10 snapshot program to produce a Next Generation Spectral Library of 600 stars for use in modeling the integrated light of galaxies and clusters. This program is using the low dispersion UV and optical gratings of STIS. The library will be roughly equally divided among four metallicities, very low {[Fe/H] lt -1.5}, low {[Fe/H] -1.5 to -0.5}, near-solar {[Fe/H] -0.3 to 0.1}, and super-solar {[Fe/H] gt 0.2}, well-sampling the entire HR-diagram in each bin. Such a library will surpass all extant compilations and have lasting archival value, well into the Next Generation Space Telescope era. Because of the universal utility and community-broad nature of this venture, we waive the entire proprietary period. ACS/HRC/WFC 9781 Galaxy Evolution in Action : The Detailed Morphology of Post-Starburst Galaxy If galaxies evolve morphologically, then some should be in transition between late and early types. One proposed evolutionary mechanism is a galaxy-galaxy merger, but evolved merger products are difficult to find. Fortunately, spectroscopic surveys have now uncovered large numbers of E+A galaxies, a class of objects whose post-starburst spectra, current lack of HI gas, and pressure-supported kinematics suggest that they are the missing panel that connects the "Toomre sequence" of merging spirals with normal ellipticals and S0s. Our first HST observations of five of these galaxies are intriguing. We find a considerable range of tidally disturbed morphologies, an "E+A" fundamental plane, significant differences among the color gradients within 1 kpc {~0.8''}, and populations of bright, blue globular clusters. These initial results are difficult to interpret, however, because they are drawn from a small sample of galaxies whose very blue overall colors may have selected a particular evolutionary path of E+As. Here we propose for ACS imaging of the remaining 15 E+As from the Las Campanas Redshift Survey to probe the full range of E+A properties. The proposed observations will allow us to 1} determine what fraction of the interactions that lead to E+As destroy all disk-like structures {and therefore necessarily lead to elliptical formation}, 2} measure the inner color gradients and constrain the spatial distribution of stars produced as gas sinks to the center during a merger, and 3} determine whether these interactions produce globular clusters in the required numbers to account for the increased specific frequency of clusters in early-type galaxies. ACS/WFC 9744 HST Imaging of Gravitational Lenses Gravitational lenses offer unique opportunities to study cosmology, dark matter, galactic structure, galaxy evolution and quasar host galaxies. They are also the only sample of galaxies selected based on their mass rather than their luminosity or surface brightness. While gravitational lenses can be discovered with ground-based optical and radio observations, converting them into astrophysical tools requires HST. We will obtain ACS/WFC V and I images and NICMOS H images of 21 new lenses never observed by HST and NICMOS H images of 16 lenses never observed by HST in the IR. As in previous cycles, we request that the data be made public immediately. STIS 9633 STIS parallel archive proposal - Nearby Galaxies - Imaging and Spectroscopy Using parallel opportunities with STIS which were not allocated by the TAC, we propose to obtain deep STIS imagery with both the Clear {50CCD} and Long-Pass {F28X50LP} filters in order to make color-magnitude diagrams and luminosity functions for nearby galaxies. For local group galaxies, we also include G750L slitless spectroscopy to search for e.g., Carbon stars, late M giants and S-type stars. This survey will be useful to study the star formation histories, chemical evolution, and distances to these galaxies. These data will be placed immediately into the Hubble Data Archive. ACS/WFC 9575 Default {Archival} Pure Parallel Program. The Advanced Camera for Surveys (WFC) was used to test ACS pure parallels in POMS. ACS/WFPC2 9488 Cosmic Shear - with ACS Pure Parallel Observations The ACS, with greater sensitivity and sky coverage, will extend our ability to measure the weak gravitational lensing of galaxy images caused by the large scale distribution of dark matter. We propose to use the ACS in pure parallel {non- proprietary} mode, following the guidelines of the ACS Default Pure Parallel Program. Using the HST Medium Deep Survey WFPC2 database we have measured cosmic shear at arc-min angular scales. The MDS image parameters, in particular the galaxy orientations and axis ratios, are such that any residual corrections due to errors in the PSF or jitter are much smaller than the measured signal. This situation is in stark contrast with ground-based observations. We have also developed a statistical analysis procedure to derive unbiased estimates of cosmic shear from a large number of fields, each of which has a very small number of galaxies. We have therefore set the stage for measurements with the ACS at fainter apparent magnitudes and smaller, 10 arc-second scales corresponding to larger cosmological distances. We will adapt existing MDS WFPC2 maximum likelihood galaxy image analysis algorithms to work with the ACS. The analysis would also yield an online database similar to that in archive.stsci.edu/mds/ 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. STIS/CCD 10085 STIS Pure Parallel Imaging Program: Cycle 12 This is the default archival pure parallel program for STIS during cycle 12. WFPC2 10084 WFII parallel archive proposal This is the generic target version of the WFPC2 Archival Pure Parallel program. The program will be used to take parallel images of random areas of the sky, following the recommendations of the 2002 Parallels Working Group. 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. ACS/HRC/WFC 10059 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/HRC 10050 ACS Earth Flats High signal sky flats will be obtained by observing the bright Earth with the HRC and WFC. These observations will be used to verify the accuracy of the flats currently used by the pipeline and will provide a comparison with flats derived via other techniques: L-flats from stellar observations, sky flats from stacked GO observations, and internal flats using the calibration lamps. Weekly coronographic monitoring is required to assess the changing position of the spots. STIS/CCD 10028 CCD Full-Field Sensitivity Monitor C1 Measure a photometric standard star field in Omega Cen in 50CCD mode every few months to monitor CCD sensitivity over the whole field of view. Keep the spacecraft orientation within a suitable range {+/- 5 degrees} to keep the same stars in the same part of the CCD for every measurement. The second observation is performed at an orientation rotated by 180 degrees with respect to the other observations to study the effect of CTE {to first order}. This test will give a direct transformation of the 50CCD magnitudes to the Johnson-Cousins system for red sources. These transformations should be accurate to 1%. The stability of these transformations will be measured to the sub-percent level. These observations also provide a check of the astrometric and PSF stability of the instrument over its full field of view. 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. STIS/CCD 10018 CCD Dark Monitor-Part 2 Monitor the darks for the STIS CCD. FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY: Significant Spacecraft Anomalies: (The following are preliminary reports of potential non-nominal performance that will be investigated.) HSTAR 9359: GS Acquisition (2,3,2) @ 080/12:22:11Z failed due to SRLE on FGS 2 following a Type 2 slew @ 080/12:15:01Z. No Full Maneuver were scheduled between the slew and the GS Acquisition. Search radius of GS Acquisition was 31 arcsec. FHST Map @ 080/13:03Z showed vehicle errors of -8.792, 30.595, and -8.445. ARU/PRT was generated from this Map and was uplinked @ 080/13:32Z. Subsequent GS Reacquisition @ 080/13:58:07Z was successful. COMPLETED OPS REQs: 17099 - ARU/PRT @ 080/1334z OPS NOTES EXECUTED: 1210-0 - Change Limits MAMA2 Threshold Voltage @ 081/0125z SCHEDULED SUCCESSFUL FAILURE TIMES FGS GSacq 23 22 080/1232z (HSTAR 9359) FGS REacq 21 21 FHST Update 49 49 LOSS of LOCK SIGNIFICANT EVENTS: GS Acquisition (2,3,2) @ 080/12:22Z failed due to SRLE. The previous Roll Delay Update was successful. Subsequent Map @ 080/13:02Z displayed errors of -8.79, 30.59, and -8.44 for V1, V2, and V3 respectively. FOT coordinated and uplinked ARU/PRT @ 080/13:34Z (OR 17099) to save the pending GS Reacquisition (2,3,3) @ 080/13:52Z (with a search radius limit of 15 arcsec). The GS Reacquisition @ 080/13:52Z was successful and science was restored. See HSTAR 9359. |
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