HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

   DAILY REPORT #2587

PERIOD COVERED:  0000Z (UTC) 03/23/00 - 0000Z (UTC) 03/24/00

Daily Status Report as of 084/0000Z

1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:

    1.1 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 8316 (The Lyman-Alpha Absorption 
Cross-Section of Nearby Galaxies)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to 
study the Lyman-Alpha absorption cross-section of nearby galaxy 
PKS1004+13.  The high resolution of the spectra will allow us to accurately 
determine the velocity of the gas, which can be compared to the systemic 
velocity of the galaxy, and to the velocity field determined from 21 cm H-I 
emission measurements, when available, enabling us to determine if or how 
the gas is kinematically tied to the galaxy.  A wavelength calibration 
image was also taken.  The observations were executed as scheduled, and no 
anomalies were noted.

    1.2 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 8459 (Decontaminations and Associated 
Observations Pt. 2/2)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to perform the monthly decons.  Also included 
are instrument monitors tied to decons: photometric stability check, focus 
monitor, pre- and post-decon internals {bias, intflats, kspots, & darks}, 
and UV throughput checks.  The observations were completed nominally.

    1.3 Completed STIS/MA2 8275 (Ultraviolet Snapshots of 3CR Radio Source 
Counterparts at Low Z)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (MA2) was used to make 
ultraviolet snapshot observations of the radio galaxy 3C192.0.  Radio 
galaxies are an important class of extragalactic objects, representing one 
of the most energetic astrophysical phenomena, while extraordinarily useful 
as probes of their environments and of the early Universe.  The 
observations were completed as scheduled, and no anomalies were reported.

    1.4  Completed Three Sets of 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.

    1.5 Completed STIS/CCD 8217 (Tests of Stellar Models Using Four 
Extremely Massive Spectroscopic Binaries in the R136 Cluster)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to observe 
four non-interacting double-lined spectroscopic binaries discovered in the 
R136 cluster by the Cycle 6 FOS spectroscopy.  The proposal completed 
nominally.

    1.6 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD 8437 (Dark Monitor-Part 2 C8)

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

    1.7 Completed 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.

    1.8 Completed WF/PC-2 8216 (T Tauri Star Snapshot Survey II. Completing 
the CTTs Sample)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to make observations of the T-Tauri class star 
known as HR-4796 as part of Snapshot Survey II.  This database will be of 
fundamental importance to understanding the nature of planet-forming 
environments and their frequency in the galaxy.  The observations were 
executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted.

    1.9 Completed Two 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/STIS/CCD 8213 (Globular Clusters of Low Surface 
Brightness Galaxies)

        The WF/PC-2 and the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) were 
used to investigate globular cluster {GC} systems in giant low surface 
brightness {LSB} galaxies.  The primary goals of the project are to 
determine the number of GCs in two nearby LSB galaxies and to estimate 
their ages.  LSB spirals tend to be more isolated, more gas rich, and have 
had more quiescent star formation than their high surface brightness {HSB} 
cousins.  LSB galaxies have either been forming stars very slowly for a 
Hubble time or have formed within the last few Gyr. T hus, their star 
formation histories may be very different from those of HSB galaxies.   The 
proposal completed nominally.

    1.11 Completed WF/PC-2 8146 (A Search for Binary L-Dwarfs)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to search for close binaries amongst the 
sample of 37 low-temperature L dwarfs, identified primarily in the course 
of the DENIS and 2MASS near-infrared surveys.  The observations completed 
with no reported problems.

    1.12 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 8327 (Observations of Eta Carinae: The 
Central Star

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to 
observe Eta Carinae {1} to obtain the spectrum of the star at ``normal'' 
times; {2} to extend the wavelength coverage below 1700 Angstrom; {3} to 
seek evidence for a hypothetical companion star; {4} to learn whether yhe 
star varies significantly when it is not near a discrete spectroscopic 
event; and {5} to study the bizarre spectra of dense, slow-moving, 
extremely peculiar ejecta located 0.15" to 1.5" from the star.  The 
proposal completed nominally.

    1.13 Completed 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.  The observations were executed as 
scheduled, and no anomalies were noted

    1.14 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 8241 (A Snapshot Survey of Interstellar 
Absorption Lines)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to 
make high resolution Echelle spectrographic observations of the standard 
ultraviolet star HD91111111824 as part of a snapshot survey of interstellar 
absorption lines.  A wavelength calibration image was also taken.  The 
observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted.

    1.15 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1/MA2 8484 (Physical Properties of H I AND H 
II Regions)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD, MA1 and MA2) was 
used to observe Interstellar absorption lines within the wavelength 
intervals 1170-1370A and 1630-1890A in the spectra of 10 early-type 
stars.  The following objectives were achieved: {1} to measure the 
populations of the fine-structure levels of O I, C I and Si II within H I 
and H II regions, {2} to determine the ionization ratios Al I/Al III {the 
Al II line will probably be too saturated}, S I/S II/S III, and Si I/Si 
II/Si III, and {3} to measure the abundances of Mg, O, S, Ni and Si from 
unsaturated lines arising from their preferred ionization stages in H I 
regions. Objectives {1} and {2} should define local kinetic temperatures, 
densities of H atoms {both neutral and ionized}, and also the ratios of uv 
ionizing photons to electrons.  The proposal completed nominally.

2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

    2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:
       Scheduled Acquisitions: 10
Successful: 10

  Scheduled Re-acquisitions:  4
Successful:  4

    2.2 FHST Updates:
Scheduled: 21
Successful: 21

    2.3 Operations Notes:

        Using ROP SR-1A, the SSR EDAC error counter was cleared once.

        The NICMOS FPA temperature sensor for detector 2 was enabled at 
083/1259Z per an operations request.

3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

        Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.

/CAW