HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

   DAILY REPORT #2618

PERIOD COVERED:  0000Z (UTC) 05/05/00 - 0000Z (UTC) 05/08/00

Daily Status Report as of 129/0000Z

1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:

    1.1 Completed Three 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 Four Sets of WF/PC-2 8118 (Snapshot Survey of Galactic 
Globular Clusters0

        The WF/PC-2 was used to make observations of crowded centers of 
globular clusters {GCs} which have produced intriguing discoveries of new 
phenomena, most of which are not understood theoretically. This is a 
continuation of a Cycle 7 snapshot proposal, to extend such work to a much 
larger portion of the Galactic GC system.  As described in HSTAR 7588, the 
acquisition for the third iteration of this proposal failed.  Otherwise, 
the observations completed nominally, with no further reported problems.

    1.3 Completed Three Sets of STIS/CCD 8410 (STIS CCD Hot Pixel Annealing C8)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to assess 
the effectiveness of the CCD hot pixel annealing process by measuring the 
dark current behavior before and after annealing and by searching for any 
window contamination effects.  In addition CTE performance is examined by 
looking for traps in a low signal level flat.  As described in HSTAR 7588, 
the acquisition for the third iteration of this proposal 
failed.  Otherwise, the observations were completed as planned, and no 
further anomalies were reported.

    1.4 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 8337 (Red Giants, Planetary Nebulae, 
and the Properties of Virgo's Intracluster Stars)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to observe the intracluster starlight that can 
be a powerful probe of the structure and evolutionary state of galaxy 
clusters.  Recently, this field of study has been revolutionized by the 
ground-based discovery of intracluster planetary nebulae {IPN} in the Virgo 
and Fornax Clusters, and by the detection of Virgo's intracluster red 
giants {IRG}.  This proposal will detect IRG stars in regions of the Virgo 
cluster where the stellar density is high and the IPN luminosity function 
is well defined, allowing the proposer to calibrate IPN measurements in the 
rest of the cluster, independently confirm the Virgo Cluster morphology, 
and place new constraints on the parent populations of the intracluster 
stars.  The proposal completed nominally.

    1.5 Completed STIS/MA1 8426 (Cycle 8 MAMA Dark Measurements)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (MA1) was used to make a 
routine Cycle-8 MAMA dark noise calibration measurement.  This proposal 
will provide the primary means of checking on the health of the MAMA 
detectors.  This is done through frequent monitoring of the background 
count rate.  The observations were completed as planned, and no problems 
were reported.

    1.6 Completed Four 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 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.

    1.8 Completed Five 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.

    1.9 Completed WF/PC-02 8131 (HST Imaging of Moderate Redshift X-ray 
Emitting Groups of Galaxies)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to make observations of the infrared and x-ray 
emitting galactic cluster Gal-Clus-1.  Most galaxies in the universe, 
including our own Milky Way, are members of poor groups of 
galaxies.  Recent optical and X- ray observations of nearby groups have 
revealed considerable new insight into these important systems.  The 
observations were completed as scheduled, and no problems were reported.

    1.10 Completed STIS/CCD 8797 (Spectroscopic Flats C8 - Late Continuation)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to perform 
Cycle 8 STIS CCD flat program in order to provide monitoring information to 
S/N levels up to about 600 which should be sufficient for the vast majority 
of science observations.  The observation completed nominally.

    1.11 Completed STIS/CCD 8789 (Probing the Outskirts of an Extrasolar 
Planet: Photometry and Spectroscopy)

        The Space telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to observe 
HD 209458, the first extrasolar planet known to transit the disk of its 
parent star, providing unique probes of this system for moons, rings and 
atmospheric composition that are unlikely to be feasible with ground-based 
observations.  The proposal completed normally, with no reported problems.

    1.12 Completed Three Sets of WF/PC-2 8805 (POMS Test Proposal: WFII 
Parallel Archive Proposal Continuation)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to perform a generic target version of the 
WFPC2 Archival Pure Parallel program.  The program will be used to take 
parallel images of random areas of the sky, following the recommendations 
of the Parallels Working.  The proposal completed with no reported problems.

    1.13 Completed WF/PC-2 8269 (The Morphological Evolution of Field Galaxies)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to make observations of the near-infrared 
field galaxy SA57-C/D in order to study its morphology.  The observations 
were completed as planned, and no anomalies were reported.

    1.14 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1 8096 (The Interstellar Medium Near To And 
Beyond The Galactic Center)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA1) was used to 
observe a B-type supergiant, LS 4825, which lies on the far side of the 
Galaxy, at a galactocentric distance of R_G = 12 kpc, and whose sightline 
passes within 1 kpc of the Galactic Center.  Optical ionCa2 and ionNa1 
interstellar observations of LS 4825 reveal a miriad of intermediate and 
high velocity clouds, several of which arise from gas near to and beyond 
the Galactic Center.  We propose to obtain medium resolution STIS spectra, 
primarily to observe the ultraviolet interstellar lines towards LS 
4825.  The observations completed nominally.

    1.15 Completed WF/PC-2 8249 (A Strong Lensing Survey of the Mass 
Distribution in X-ray Luminous Clusters)

        The WF/PC-2 was used for a gravitational lensing survey of the 
central regions of 16 X-ray luminous clusters from a statistically complete 
sample.  The observations completed with no problems.

    1.16 Completed STIS/CCD 8796 (POMS Test Proposal: STIS Non-Scripted 
Parallel Proposal Continuation IV)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used in the 
parallel mode to make some low galactic latitude archive observations.  The 
observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted.

    1.17 Completed WF/PC-2 8270 (Proper Motion of the Leo II Dwarf Spheroidal)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to continue the investigation into the proper 
motion of distant satellites of the Milky Way with a series of HST 
snapshots around faint galaxies within the Leo II astrometric field.  A 
proper motion for Leo II will be determined by combining images from 111 
Palomar 200" photographic plates taken by Baade between 1950-1959 with the 
HST snapshots.  Only with the fine pixel scale of HST can we realistically 
hope to match the exquisite Baade images, which were all taken on the very 
best nights from a decade of Baade's allotment of about forty 200 arcsecond 
nights a year.  The observations completed with no reported problems.

    1.18 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 nominally.

    1.19 Completed WF/PC-2 8609 (Host Galaxy Luminosities of the Most 
Luminous QSOs)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to determine the factors that decide whether a 
galaxy is host to a luminous QSO.  Recent evidence indicates that host 
galaxy spheroid mass is a key factor: we want to test the relationship 
between host galaxy and QSO luminosity at the highest feasible QSO 
luminosities by measuring the luminosities and profiles of host galaxies 
for QSOs with -25.8 > M_V > -27.6.  Current data in this area are 
conflicting.  The observations completed with no reported anomalies.

    1.20 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1/MA2 8041 (Accretion and Winds in T Tauri 
Systems)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD, MA1 and MA1) was 
used to obtain echelle spectra {modes 1.3 and 2.3} of a classical T Tauri 
star to study the geometry, dynamics and energetics of accretion and winds 
in pre-main-sequence stars.  The proposal completed with no reported problems.

2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

    2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions:
       Scheduled Acquisitions: 16
Successful: 15

        Per HSTAR 7588, the acquisition scheduled for 128/0347Z failed when 
FGS-1 failed the scan step limit.  The proposals discussed in 1.2 and 1.3 
were affected.
  Scheduled Re-acquisitions: 28
Successful: 28

    2.2 FHST Updates:
Scheduled: 45
Successful: 45

    2.3 Operations Notes:

        HST operations are being conducted on CCS string "B" with CCS 
release 3.2.  The backup string is CCS string "C", also with release 
3.2.  CCS strings "A" and "G" both are configured with release 3.1.2.

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

        The STIS MCE-2 reset at 126/142416Z.  Using ROP NS-12, the STIS 
flight software error counter was reset at 126/1507Z.

        The Engineering Status Buffer was dumped and cleared at 126/1457Z 
per ROP DF-18A.

        The NSSC-1 status buffer was dumped and cleared at 126/2229Z as 
directed by ROP NS-3.

3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

        Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.

/CAW