Daily Report #4735

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE - Continuing to collect World Class Science

DAILY REPORT****** #4735

PERIOD COVERED: 5am November 10 - 5am November 12, 2008 (DOY
*************************** 315/1000z-317/1000z)

OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED

FGS 11942

Increasing the Accuracy of HST Astrometry with FGS1r

We propose to observe six exoplanetary system host stars and two
planetary nebulae central stars with FGS1r. All objects have been
previously observed under proposals GO-09233, -09969, -10989, and
-11210. These observations will significantly extend the time
baseline, permitting improvements in the determination of proper
motion. This systematic motion must be removed to get at the
perturbation of interest, either due to exoplanetary companions or the
orbital motion of the Earth (parallax). In most cases the perturbation
orbits will also improve. We improve either companion mass or PN
parallax. For one target, GJ 876, theoretical dynamical modelers have
proposed an inclination closer to 50 degrees, while FGS3 measurements
indicated an inclination closer to 84 degrees. These new data, once
combined with our older FGS3 data, will permit an independent
remeasurement of the inclination of the outermost companion, and a
re-evalution of widely used dynamical algorithms.

WFPC2 11867

HH 30

This is a end-of-life WFPC2 imaging program of the disk and jet of the
young star HH 30. HH 30 will be observed on PC1 in filters F555W,
F675W, and F814W. Jet emission will be seen in F675W extending to the
NNW. F555W and F814W each get one orbit of long exposures, and F675W
gets two orbits to see the jet at large distances. The orientation is
specified to ensure that the jet is not truncated by the chip edge and
to place the nearby star XZ Tau in the far corner of WF2.

WFPC2 11796

WFPC2 Cycle 16 Decontaminations and Associated Observations

This proposal is for the WFPC2 decons. Also included are instrument
monitors tied to decons: photometric stability check, focus monitor,
pre- and post-decon internals (bias, intflats, kspots, & darks), UV
throughput check, VISFLAT sweep, and internal UV flat check.

FGS 11789

An Astrometric Calibration of Population II Distance Indicators

In 2002 HST produced a highly precise parallax for RR Lyrae. That
measurement resulted in an absolute magnitude, M(V)= 0.61+/-0.11, a
useful result, judged by the over ten refereed citations each year
since. It is, however, unsatisfactory to have the direct,
parallax-based, distance scale of Population II variables based on a
single star. We propose, therefore, to obtain the parallaxes of four
additional RR Lyrae stars and two Population II Cepheids, or W Vir
stars. The Population II Cepheids lie with the RR Lyrae stars on a
common K-band Period-Luminosity relation. Using these parallaxes to
inform that relationship, we anticipate a zero-point error of 0.04
magnitude. This result should greatly strengthen confidence in the
Population II distance scale and increase our understanding of RR
Lyrae star and Pop II Cepheid astrophysics.

FGS 11212

Filling the Period Gap for Massive Binaries

The current census of binaries among the massive O-type stars is
seriously incomplete for systems in the period range from years to
millennia because the radial velocity variations are too small and the
angular separations too close for easy detection. Here we propose to
discover binaries in this observational gap through a Faint Guidance
Sensor SNAP survey of relatively bright targets listed in the Galactic
O Star Catalog. Our primary goal is to determine the binary frequency
among those in the cluster/association, field, and runaway groups. The
results will help us assess the role of binaries in massive star
formation and in the processes that lead to the ejection of massive
stars from their natal clusters. The program will also lead to the
identification of new, close binaries that will be targets of long
term spectroscopic and high angular resolution observations to
determine their masses and distances. The results will also be
important for the interpretation of the spectra of suspected and newly
identified binary and multiple systems.

WFPC2 11130

AGNs with Intermediate-mass Black Holes: Testing the Black Hole-Bulge
Paradigm, Part II

The recent progress in the study of central black holes in galactic
nuclei has led to a general consensus that supermassive {10^6-10^9
solar mass} black holes are closely connected with the formation and
evolutionary history of large galaxies, especially their bulge
component. Two outstanding issues, however, remain unresolved. Can
central black holes form in the absence of a bulge? And does the mass
function of central black holes extend below 10^6 solar masses?
Intermediate-mass black holes {10^6 solar masses}, if they exist, may
offer important clues to the nature of the seeds of supermassive black
holes. Using the SDSS, our group has successfully uncovered a new
population of AGNs with intermediate-mass black holes that reside in
low-luminosity galaxies. However, very little is known about the
detailed morphologies or structural parameters of the host galaxies
themselves, including the crucial question of whether they have bulges
or not. Surprisingly, the majority of the targets of our Cycle 14
pilot program have structural properties similar to dwarf elliptical
galaxies. The statistics from this initial study, however, are really
too sparse to reach definitive conclusions on this important new class
of black holes. We wish to extend this study to a larger sample, by
using the Snapshot mode to obtain WFPC2 F814W images from a parent
sample of 175 AGNs with intermediate- mass black holes selected from
our final SDSS search. We are particularly keen to determine whether
the hosts contain bulges, and if so, how the fundamental plane
properties of the host depend on the mass of their central black
holes. We will also investigate the environment of this unique class
of AGNs.

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.

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:

18357-2 - ESM Side Switch & FSW Update 315/22:33z
18357-2 - ESM Side Switch & FSW Update 315/22:33z
18358-0 - ESM Return to Side A @ 316/00:55z

COMPLETED OPS NOTES: (None)

********************** SCHEDULED***** SUCCESSFUL

FGS GSacq************** 27**************** 27
FGS REacq************** 01**************** 01
OBAD with Maneuver **** 58**************** 58

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS:

Flash Report: ESM Side Switch, FSW Update, and Return to Side A

At approximately 315/22:36 UTC, Ops Request 18357 was completed,
configuring the ESM to use RIU-B and MCU-B in an effort to further
isolate the potential cause of the NCS pressure telemetry disparities
noted since DOY 290. Upon powering the PCE on the B-side and receiving
valid pressure telemetry, no change in the disparities between the TBA
and compressor inlet pressures, and the fill bottle and circulator
inlet pressures were observed when being read through the redundant
electronics.* 8051 FSW version 7.0.0 was then successfully loaded into
both the high and low banks of EEPROM on MCU-B.

Following validation of the load integrity, after approximately 1 hour
of ingesting B-side telemetry, the ESM was transitioned down and
reconfigured back to the original RIU-A/MCU-A configuration.* While in
Boot, the opportunity was taken to load 8051 FSW version 7.00 in to
the remaining high EEPROM bank on the A-side as well.* Power was
restored to the PCE and the NCS CPL was returned to its Standby mode
at approximately 316/00:54 UTC, successfully completing Ops Request
18358. The pressure disparities remain unchanged since returning to
the A-side.