Daily Report #4677

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE - Continuing to collect World Class Science

DAILY REPORT #4677

PERIOD COVERED: 5am August 18 - 5am August 19, 2008 (DOY
231/0900z-232/0900z)

OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED

ACS/SBC 10872

Lyman Continuum Emission in Galaxies at z=1.2

Lyman continuum photons produced in massive starbursts may have played a
dominant role in the reionization of the Universe. Starbursts are important
contributors to the ionizing metagalactic background at lower redshifts as
well. However, their contribution to the background depends upon the
fraction of ionizing radiation that escapes from the intrinsic opacity of
galaxies below the Lyman limit. Current surveys suggest escape fractions of
a few percent, up to 10%, with very few detections {as opposed to upper
limits} having been reported. No detections have been reported in the epochs
between z=0.1 and z=2. We propose to measure the fraction of escaping Lyman
continuum radiation from 15 luminous z~1.2 galaxies in the GOODS fields.
Using the tremendous sensitivity of the ACS Solar-blind Channel, we will
reach AB=30 mag., allowing us to detect an escape fraction of 1%. We will
correlate the amount of escaping radiation with the photometric and
morphological properties of the galaxies. A non-detection in all sources
would imply that QSOs provide the overwhelming majority of ionizing
radiation at z=1.3, and it would strongly indicate that the properties of
galaxies at higher redshift have to be significantly different for galaxies
to dominate reionization. The deep FUV images will also be useful for
extending the FUV study of other galaxies in the GOODS fields.

NIC1/NIC2 11172

Defining Classes of Long Period Variable Stars in M31

We propose a thrifty but information-packed investigation {1440 exposures
total} with NICMOS F205W, F160W and F110W providing crucial information
about Long Period Variables in M31, at a level of detail that has recently
allowed the discovery of new variable star classes in the Magellanic Clouds,
a very different stellar population. These observations are buttressed by an
extensive map of the same fields with ACS and WFPC2 exposures in F555W and
F814W, and a massive ground-based imaging patrol producing well-sampled
light curves for more than 400,000 variable stars. Our primary goal is to
collect sufficient NIR data in order to analyze and classify the huge number
of long-period variables in our catalog {see below} through
Period-Luminosity {P/L} diagrams. We will produce accurate P/L diagrams for
both the bulge and a progression of locations throughout the disk of M31.
These diagrams will be similar in quality to those currently in the
Magellanic Clouds, with their lower metallicity, radically different star
formation history, and larger spread in distance to the variables. M31
offers an excellent chance to study more typical disk populations, in a
manner which might be extended to more distant galaxies where such variables
are still visible, probing a much more evenly spread progenitor age
distribution than cepheids {and perhaps useful as a distance scale
alternative or cross-check}. Our data will also provide a massive and unique
color-magnitude dataset, and allow us to confirm the microlensing nature of
a large sample of candidate lensed sources in M31. We expect that this study
will produce several important results, among them a better understanding of
P/L and P/L-color relations for pulsating variables which are essential to
the extragalactic distance ladder, will view these variables at a common
distance over a range of metallicities {eliminating the distance- error vs.
metallicity ambiguity between the LMC and SMC}, allow further insight into
possible faint-variable mass-loss for higher metallicities, and in general
produce a sample more typical of giant disk galaxies predominant in many
studies.

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 11548

NICMOS Imaging of Protostars in the Orion A Cloud: The Role of Environment
in Star Formation

We propose NICMOS observations of a sample of 252 protostars identified in
the Orion A cloud with the Spitzer Space Telescope. These observations will
image the scattered light escaping the protostellar envelopes, providing
information on the shapes of outflow cavities, the inclinations of the
protostars, and the overall morphologies of the envelopes. In addition, we
ask for Spitzer time to obtain 55-95 micron spectra of 75 of the protostars.
Combining these new data with existing 3.6 to 70 micron photometry and
forthcoming 5-40 micron spectra measured with the Spitzer Space Telescope,
we will determine the physical properties of the protostars such as envelope
density, luminosity, infall rate, and outflow cavity opening angle. By
examining how these properties vary with stellar density (i.e. clusters vs
groups vs isolation) and the properties of the surrounding molecular cloud;
we can directly measure how the surrounding environment influences
protostellar evolution, and consequently, the formation of stars and
planetary systems. Ultimately, this data will guide the development of a
theory of protostellar evolution.

NIC3/WFPC2 11192

NICMOS Confirmation of Candidates of the Most Luminous Galaxies at z 7

While the deepest pencil-beam near-IR survey suggested that the Universe was
too young to build up many luminous galaxies by z ~ 7--8 (Bouwens &
Illingworth 2006), there is also evidence indicating the contrary. It is now
known that some galaxies with stellar masses of M1e10 Msun were already in
place by z ~ 6--7, which strongly suggests that their progenitors should be
significantly more luminous, and hence detectable in deep, wide-field
near-IR surveys (Yan et al. 2006). As galaxies at such a high redshift
should manifest themselves as "dropouts" from the optical, we have carried
out a very wide-field, deep near-IR survey in the GOODS fields to search for
z-band dropouts as candidates of galaxies at z 7. In total, six promising
candidates have been found in ~ 300 sq. arcmin to J_AB ~ 24.5 mag
(corresponding to restframe M(UV) -22.5 mag at z ~ 7). By contrast, the
galaxy luminosity function (LF) suggested in BI06 would predict at most 3--5
galaxies over the entire 2-pi sky at this brightness level. Here we propose
to observe these candidates with NIC3 in F110W and F160W to further
investigate their nature. If any of these candidates are indeed at z 7,
the result will lead to a completely new picture of star formation in the
early universe. If none of our candidates are consistent with being at z
7, then the depth and area of our near-IR survey (from which the candidates
are drawn) will let us set a very stringent upper limit on the bright end of
the galaxy LF at those redshift. As a result, our program will still be able
to provide new clues about the processes of early galaxy formation, such as
their dust contents and their merging time scale (Yan et al. 2006).

WFPC2 11113

Binaries in the Kuiper Belt: Probes of Solar System Formation and Evolution

The discovery of binaries in the Kuiper Belt and related small body
populations is powering a revolutionary step forward in the study of this
remote region. Three quarters of the known binaries in the Kuiper Belt have
been discovered with HST, most by our snapshot surveys. The statistics
derived from this work are beginning to yield surprising and unexpected
results. We have found a strong concentration of binaries among
low-inclination Classicals, a possible size cutoff to binaries among the
Centaurs, an apparent preference for nearly equal mass binaries, and a
strong increase in the number of binaries at small separations. We propose
to continue this successful program in Cycle 16; we expect to discover at
least 13 new binary systems, targeted to subgroups where these discoveries
can have the greatest impact.

WFPC2 11203

A Search for Circumstellar Disks and Planetary-Mass Companions around Brown
Dwarfs in Taurus

During a 1-orbit program in Cycle 14, we used WFPC2 to obtain the first
direct image of a circumstellar disk around a brown dwarf. These data have
provided fundamental new constraints on the formation process of brown
dwarfs and the properties of their disks. To search for additional direct
detections of disks around brown dwarfs and to search for planetary-mass
companions to these objects, we propose a WFPC2 survey of 32 brown dwarfs in
the Taurus star-forming region.

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 11302

WFPC2 CYCLE 16 Standard Darks - Part III

This dark calibration program obtains dark frames every week in order to
provide data for the ongoing calibration of the CCD dark current rate, and
to monitor and characterize the evolution of hot pixels. Over an extended
period these data will also provide a monitor of radiation damage to the
CCDs.

WFPC2 11793

WFPC2 Cycle 16 Internal Monitor

This calibration proposal is the Cycle 15 routine internal monitor for
WFPC2, to be run weekly to monitor the health of the cameras. A variety of
internal exposures are obtained in order to provide a monitor of the
integrity of the CCD camera electronics in both bays (both gain 7 and gain
15 -- to test stability of gains and bias levels), a test for quantum
efficiency in the CCDs, and a monitor for possible buildup of contaminants
on the CCD windows. These also provide raw data for generating annual
super-bias reference files for the calibration pipeline.

FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

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

HSTARS:

11448 - GSACQ(2,0,2) failed while LOS

Upon acquisition of signal at 231/21:31:14 vehicle was in gyro control with
QF2STOPF and QSTOP flags set. GSACQ(2,0,2) at 21:11:27 failed to RGA
control. #44 commands did not change since previous acquisition.

Observations affected: NICMOS 38 to 40, proposal 11548.

COMPLETED OPS REQUEST: (None)

COMPLETED OPS NOTES: (None)

SCHEDULED SUCCESSFUL

FGS GSacq 10 09
FGS REacq 05 05
OBAD with Maneuver 28 28

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS: (None)