HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

   DAILY REPORT #2584

PERIOD COVERED:  0000Z (UTC) 03/20/00 - 0000Z (UTC) 03/21/00

Daily Status Report as of 081/0000Z

1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:

    1.1 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 8460 (Cycle 8 Supplemental Darks pt2/3)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to obtain three dark frames every day to 
provide data for monitoring and characterizing the evolution of hot 
pixels.  The observations completed with no reported problems.

    1.2 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1/MA2 8183 (Ultraviolet Spectroscopy of the 
X-ray Transient CI Cam)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD, MA1, and MA2) was 
used to observe the transient X-ray source XTE J0421+560 which erupted on 
1998 March 31.  Transient X-ray sources are all binary stars that contain 
an accreting neutron star or black hole, but the XTE J0421+560 binary 
system is unusual and possibly unique.  It emitted strong, non-thermal 
radio flux during its eruption and possibly ejected a pair of relativistic 
jets.  The eruption decayed in a few days, more rapidly than most X-ray 
transients.  CI Cam, the optical counterpart of XTE J0421+560, is the 
brightest known X-ray transient, allowing high- resolution measurements of 
its spectrum.  As described in yesterday's report and HSTAR 7544, the 
acquisition for this proposal defaulted to fine lock backup on one FGS 
only, possibly affecting nine observations.  Otherwise, the observations 
completed with no further reported anomalies.

    1.3 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 8090 (POMS Test Proposal: WF-II 
Parallel Archive Proposal Continuation)

        The WF/PC-2 was used in the parallel mode to make some low galactic 
latitude archive observations.  The program will be used to take parallel 
images of random areas of the sky.  As described in yesterday's report and 
HSTAR 7544, the acquisition for the first iteration of this proposal 
defaulted to fine lock backup on one FGS only, possibly affecting nine 
observations.  Otherwise, the observations were executed as scheduled, and 
no further anomalies were noted.

       1.4  Completed WF/PC-2 8442 (WF/PC-2 Cycle 8 Standard Darks)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to make a series of Cycle 8 standard dark 
calibration observations.  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.  The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies 
were noted.

    1.5 Completed STIS/CCD 8439 (Bias Monitor-Part 2 C8)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to 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.  The proposal completed with no reported problems.

    1.6 Completed FGS 8292 (Calibrating the Mass-Luminosity Relation at the 
End of the Main Sequence)

        The Fine Guidance Sensor (FGS1R) was used to make astrometric 
observations of the star GL234-USNO and other nearby reference stars.  This 
is part of a study to calibrate the mass-luminosity relation for stars less 
massive than 0.2 Msun, with special emphasis on objects near the 
stellar/brown dwarf border.  The observations were completed as planned, 
and no problems were reported.

    1.7 Completed STIS/CCD 8437 (Dark Monitor-Part 2 C8)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to monitor 
the darks.  The proposal completed nominally.

    1.8 Completed WF/PC-2 8175 (A Survey of Gravitational Lenses as 
Cosmological Tools III)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to make observations of the gravitational lens 
system MG0414+053.  Gravitational lenses are powerful tools for studying 
cosmology, galactic structure, and galaxy evolution.  The observations were 
completed as planned, and no anomalies were reported.

    1.9 Completed Four Sets of STIS/CCD 8549 (POMS Test Proposal: 
Non-Scripted Parallel Proposal Continuation I)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to make low 
galactic latitude, non-scripted parallel observations as part of a POMS 
test proposal.  The observations were completed as planned, and no 
anomalies were reported.

    1.10 Completed WF/PC-2 8100 (Calibration of Nearby Type Ia Supernovae 
as Standard Candles: The Next Step)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to continue the calibration experiment for M{ 
max} of type Ia supernovae {SNe Ia} by determining Cepheid distances to 
their parent galaxies.  The proposal completed nomionally.

    1.11 Completed S/C 5582 (FOC/48 Monthly Activation (Camera Section 
Only): Cycle 4)

         This proposal was executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted.

    1.12 Completed FOC/96 7923 (FOC F/96 Turn-on)

        The Faint Object Camera (f/96) was used to take an internal flat 
and a dark to ensure that the 30-day limit for the FOC is not 
exceeded.  The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies 
were noted.

    1.13 Completed WF/PC-2 8322 (The Distance to NGC 2841: Improving the TF 
Calibration and Definitively Testing MOND)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to measure a distance to the spiral galaxy NGC 
2841 using Cepheid variables.  NGC 2841 provides a unique opportunity to 
simultaneously probe three separate phenomenon in extragalactic astronomy: 
1} It will provide the highest rotational velocity data point for the 
Cepheid based calibration of the I-band Tully-Fisher relation and thus will 
firmly determine if this relation experiences curvature or remains linear 
all the way out to high rotational velocities. 2} It has hosted two SN Ia 
events; both of which have good photometry {1957A and 1972R}- this 
significantly adds to the number of calibrators for the SN Ia distance 
scale; 3} If its distance can be shown to be significantly less than 19.5 
MPC, then MOND can be definitively ruled out because NGC 2841 will require 
a value of a_o substantially in excess of the empirically determined 
"universal" value.   The observations completed nominally.

    1.14 Completed STIS/CCD 8228 (The Black Hole Versus Bulge Mass 
Relationship in Spiral Galaxies)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to make 
observations of the galaxy NGC-3003 in order to study the black hole versus 
bulge mass relationship in spiral galaxies.  A wavelength calibration image 
was also taken.  The observations were executed as scheduled, and no 
anomalies were noted.

    1.15 Completed WF/PC-2 8230 (Snapshot Survey of Dynamically Close 
Galaxy Pairs from z=0.1 to z=0.5)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to make snapshot survey observations of 
galactic cluster Gal-Clus-0.  This is to obtain snapshot images of a large, 
well-defined, and dynamically selected sample of close galaxy pairs at 
moderate redshift.  The observations were executed as scheduled, and no 
anomalies were noted.

    1.16 Completed STIS/CCD 8483 (Eta Carinae, the Integral Nebula and the 
Homunculus Observations)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to make 
observations of Eta Carina which recently has revealed much new and very 
exciting information.  The observations were completed with no reported 
problems.

    1.17 Completed WF/PC-2 8436 (POMS Test Proposal: WFII Backup Parallel 
Archive Proposal II)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to make archive observations parallel to the 
prime science observations as part of a POMS test proposal.  This is a POMS 
test proposal designed to simulate scientific plans.  The observations were 
completed as planned, and no anomalies were reported.

2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

    2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:
       Scheduled Acquisitions:  7
Successful:  7

  Scheduled Re-acquisitions:  8
Successful:  8

    2.2 FHST Updates:
Scheduled: 13
Successful: 13

    2.3 Operations Notes:

        The SSR EDAC error counter was cleared once per ROP SR-1A.

        An SI C&DH error was reset at 081/0526Z as directed by ROP NS-5.

3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

        Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.

/CAW