A Space & astronomy forum. SpaceBanter.com

Go Back   Home » SpaceBanter.com forum » Astronomy and Astrophysics » Hubble
Site Map Home Authors List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Web Partners

Daily # 3951



 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old September 26th 05, 07:20 AM
Joe Cooper
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Daily # 3951

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE - Continuing to collect World Class Science

DAILY REPORT # 3951

PERIOD COVERED: UT September 22, 2005 (DOY 265)

OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED

ACS/HRC 10556

Neutral Gas at Redshift z=0.5

Damped Lyman-alpha systems {DLAs} are used to track the bulk of the
neutral hydrogen gas in the Universe. Prior to HST UV spectroscopy,
they could only be studied from the ground at redshifts z1.65.
However, HST has now permitted us to discover 41 DLAs at z1.65 in our
previous surveys. Followup studies of these systems are providing a
wealth of information about the evolution of the neutral gas phase
component of the Universe. But one problem is that these 41
low-redshift systems are spread over a wide range of redshifts
spanning nearly 70% of the age of the Universe. Consequently, past
surveys for low-redshift DLAs have not been able to offer very good
precision in any small redshift regime. Here we propose an ACS-HRC-
PR200L spectroscopic survey in the redshift interval z=[0.37, 0.7]
which we estimate will permit us to discover another 41 DLAs. This
will not only allow us to double the number of low-redshift DLAs, but
it will also provide a relatively high-precision regime in the
low-redshift Universe that can be used to anchor evolutionary studies.
Fortunately DLAs have high absorption equivalent width, so
ACS-HRC-PR200L has high-enough resoultion to perform this proposed
MgII-selected DLA survey.

ACS/HRC 10572

Resolving M32's Main Sequence: A Critical Test for Stellar Population
Studies

We propose to observe the M32 main-sequence turnoff {MSTO} with deep
ACS/HRC B and V images. Only the superior resolution and blue
sensitivity of ACS/HRC make this possible. M32 is the only elliptical
galaxy close enough to allow direct observation of its MSTO - it is a
vital laboratory for deciphering the stellar populations of all other
elliptical galaxies, which can only be studied by the spectra of their
integrated light, given their greater distances. Major questions about
M32's star formation history remain unanswered. Spectral studies
suggest that M32 underwent a recent burst of star formation 3 to 8
billion years ago; observation of the M32 MSTO will confirm this
directly. In the process, ACS will easily resolve more luminous
components: hot blue stars, luminous, intermediate-age red clump and
AGB stars, and any extended blue horizontal branch. These detailed
CMDs will provide a direct comparison with population synthesis models
for M32, providing a bridge to studies of the integrated light of more
distant elliptical galaxies, a crucial ingredient for understanding
their star formation histories. As M32 is projected against the edge
of the M31 disk, an essential part of our proposal includes deep
observation of an M31 disk field to allow the M32 photometry to be
background corrected. These observations will reveal the star
formation history of M31's outer disk and are thus of interest in
their own right.

ACS/WFC 10496

Decelerating and Dustfree: Efficient Dark Energy Studies with
Supernovae and Clusters

We propose a novel HST approach to obtain a dramatically more useful
"dust free" Type Ia supernovae {SNe Ia} dataset than available with
the previous GOODS searches. Moreover, this approach provides a
strikingly more efficient search-and-follow-up that is primarily pre-
scheduled. The resulting dark energy measurements do not share the
major systematic uncertainty at these redshifts, that of the
extinction correction with a prior. By targeting massive galaxy
clusters at z 1 we obtain a five-times higher efficiency in
detection of Type Ia supernovae in ellipticals, providing a
well-understood host galaxy environment. These same deep cluster
images then also yield fundamental calibrations required for future
weak lensing and Sunyaev-Zel'dovich measurements of dark energy, as
well as an entire program of cluster studies. The data will make
possible a factor of two improvement on supernova constraints on dark
energy time variation, and much larger improvement in systematic
uncertainty. They will provide both a cluster dataset and a SN Ia
dataset that will be a longstanding scientific resource.

ACS/WFC 10581

Imaging a Proto-cluster at z=2.3: The Morphology-Density Relation at
High Redshift

We propose deep ACS/WFC imaging in the HS1700+643 field, which
contains a significant galaxy over-density at z=2.30+/-0.015. This
structure is the largest and most robustly established cluster-sized
over-density at z1.5. We have spectroscopically confirmed 100 z~2
star-forming galaxies in this field and find significant differences
in their stellar populations as a function of large-scale environment.
Here we propose to measure the detailed morphological properties of
this sample, to determine if the universal morphology-density
relationship observed in the low-redshift universe is already in place
in and around a forming proto-cluster region at high redshift. As well
as providing a unique window into galaxy formation through studies of
the z=2.3 proto-cluster, the HS1700+643 field has an extensive wealth
of complementary data to recommend it. We will combine the new ACS
observations with existing multi-wavelength imaging ranging from
0.3--8.0 microns, optical and near-IR spectroscopy, and narrow band
imaging of z=2.3 H-alpha emitters, to understand the evolving
properties of a complete and unbiased sample of high-redshift
galaxies.

WFPC2 10356

WFPC2 Cycle 13 Decontaminations and Associated Observations

This proposal is for the monthly 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.

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:
17548-0 - Genslew for proposal 10487 - slot 8 @ 265/1527z
17549-0 - Genslew for proposal 10487 - slot 9 @ 265/1529z

COMPLETED OPS NOTES: (None)

SCHEDULED SUCCESSFUL
FGS Gsacq 5 5
FGS Reacq 10 10
OBAD with Maneuver 24 24

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS: (None)


 




Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
COUNT THE STARS CON-TEST EXTENDED -- 2004 Hubble Ultra View - Universe - Space - Galaxies - Evolution or Intelligent Design??? Ed Conrad Amateur Astronomy 4 August 25th 05 09:34 PM
BILLY MEIER RIGHT ON TARGET- Extraterrestrials - UFOs - Space - Mt. Everest Ed Conrad Astronomy Misc 2 August 4th 05 11:43 PM
Ed Conrad's NEW Letter to Prof. Michael Behe Ed Conrad Astronomy Misc 0 June 21st 05 10:50 AM
MYSTERIOUS ARTIFACTS, FOSSILS - Exhibit Now in Berlin -- Smallest Woman (5 in. or 14 cm) - Petrified Human Bones Found in Coal Seams & MORE Ed Conrad Astronomy Misc 0 June 9th 05 01:00 AM
EVOLUTION DEAD AT AGE 126 -- R.I.P. Ed Conrad Astronomy Misc 4 August 21st 04 12:01 AM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 04:10 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2024 SpaceBanter.com.
The comments are property of their posters.