HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

   DAILY REPORT #2713

PERIOD COVERED:  0000Z (UTC) 09/21/00 - 0000Z (UTC) 09/22/00

Daily Status Report as of 266/0000Z

1.0 OBSERVATIONS SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED:

    1.1 Completed STIS/CCD 8700 (A STIS Spectroscopic Snapshot Survey of 
3CR Radio Galaxies : The Nature of the Unresolved Nuclei)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to perform 
STIS snapshot long-slit spectroscopy of these nuclei over 2900- 10300 AA to 
classify them {QSO, NLRG, BLRG, BL Lac, ldots} and establish their AGN 
characteristics down to the lowest nuclear luminosities, while still within 
powerful 3C radio galaxies.  The primary goals are : {1} to test 
unification schemes by identifying previously undetected signatures of 
low-level AGN/QSO activity in their spectra in the form of weak, broad 
emission lines, featureless continua, and UV excess, {2} to constrain the 
FR I/BL Lac connection by measuring the relative contribution of thermal 
{starburst}, non-thermal {optical synchrotron}, and line emission, and {3} 
to perform line and continuum diagnostics to determine the dominant 
ionization mechanisms in the circumnuclear regions {tenths of arcseconds} 
and the role of dust extinction in the NLRGs and BLRGs in the form of 
geometrically thick or thin tori and foreground dust.  The proposal 
completed as planned, with no reported anomalies.

    1.2 Completed Three Sets of WF/PC-2 8826 (Cycle 9 Supplemental Darks pt 1)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to perform a T dark calibration program that 
obtains three dark frames every day in order to provide data for monitoring 
and characterizing the evolution of hot pixels.  There were no reported 
anomalies.

    1.3 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD 8631 (Bright Quasar Close Lensing 
Search II)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to expand 
the Cycle 8 second generation HST snapshot survey of bright quasars, 
optimized to find lenses with component image separations < 1".  The 
observations completed nominally.

    1.4 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD 8837 (CCD Dark Monitor-Part 1)

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

    1.5 Completed STIS/CCD/MA2 8233 (UV Imaging of Optical Jets: A New 
Window on the Physics of Jets)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA2) was used to 
observe extragalactic radio jets which are highly collimated beams of high 
energy particles and magnetic fields issuing forth at relativistic speeds 
from sub-parsec scale regions, extending hundreds of kpc through 
interstellar and intergalactic space.  They are unique in their scope, 
power, and size. The jets affect their host galaxies and environments, 
through kinetic energy output and through deposition of cosmic rays and 
magnetic fields into interstellar and intergalactic space.  Despite years 
of study, fundamental jet parameters such as the magnetic field strength, 
particle density, jet configuration, bulk Lorentz factor, and the nature of 
particle acceleration in the flow remain unknown.  The observations 
completed with no anomalous activity.

    1.6 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.

    1.7 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 8544 (POMS Test Proposal: WFII Backup 
Parallel Archive Proposal II)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to execute a POMS test proposal that was 
designed to simulate scientific plans.  No problems were encountered.

    1.8 Completed Two Sets of STIS/MA1/MA2 8426 (Cycle 8 MAMA Dark 
Measurements)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (MA1 and MA2) 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.

    1.9 Completed STIS/CCD/MA1/MA2 8198 (Understanding the Starburst-like 
Dust in the Small Magellanic Cloud)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD, MA1 and MA2) was 
used to investigate the similarities between the ultraviolet extinction 
found in the star forming bar of the Small Magellanic Cloud {SMC} and 
starburst galaxies has highlighted the importance of understanding the dust 
extinction in the SMC.  The proposal completed with no reported problems.

    1.10 Completed STIS/CCD 8838 (Bias Monitor - Part 1)

        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 nominally.

    1.11 Completed STIS/CCD/MA2 8770 (The Nucleosynthesis of Boron - 
Benchmarks for the Galactic Disk)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD and MA2) was used to 
determine boron (B) abundance.  In spite of several HST cycles of B 
abundance determinations, we do not know the true, ambient, present-day 
abundance of B.  Only two stars {with undepleted Li and Be} have been 
observed to derive the Population I true B abundance.  Past cycles have 
focused on {1} halo stars with low metallicity and {2} solar-type stars 
with Li and/or Be deficiencies.  In this proposal, the stellar abundances 
of B will be determined, measured from the B I 2497 Angstrom line from STIS 
echelle spectra, of main sequence F-G stars that have retained their full 
initial abundances of boron.  Our target stars are those for which 
ground-based observations show that beryllium is undepleted.  These new 
abundances will map evolution of the B abundance in the Galactic disk in 
the metallicity range from one-third solar up to solar.  Then the B, and 
previously determined Li and Be abundances, will be used to improve 
understanding of the nucleosynthesis of B.  There were no reported anomalies.

    1.12 Completed WF/PC -2 8177 (Investigating Type Ia Supernovae and an 
Accelerating Universe)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to obtain rest frame U and B photometry for 
four z~ 0.85 Supernova (SN) Ia.  These observations will be coupled to 
ground-based rest frame V photometry and spectra.  These data, combined 
with previous samples, will extend the D_L vs. z diagram for SN Ia to 
z~0.85, and allow us to discriminate the redshift dependence of supernova 
magnitudes in an accelerating Universe from that expected to result from 
systematic effects such as age of the stellar population, chemical 
evolution, a drift in the properties of dust, and weak gravitational 
lensing.  The proposal completed with no reported problems.

    1.13 Completed Four Sets of STIS/CCD 8808 (POMS Test Proposal: STIS 
Non-Scripted Parallel Proposal Continuation III)

        The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to make 
non-scripted, parallel observations as part of a POMS test proposal.  The 
losses of lock mentioned in HSTAR 7863 and 2.1 occurred during the final 
iteration of this proposal, possibly affecting observations.  Otherwise, 
the observations completed with no further anomalous activity.

    1.14 Completed WF/PC-2 8163 (Trapezium Systems and Stellar Jets in 
30-Doradus)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to make observations of the 30-Doradus system 
(both the North and South sections).  30-Doradus is the nearest and best 
resolved extragalactic starbursting region.  The observations were 
completed as scheduled, and no anomalies were reported.

    1.15 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 8701 (Multiplicity among Very-Low 
Mass Stars and Brown Dwarfs in Alpha Persei and the Pleiades)

         The WF/PC-2 was used to observe open clusters which provide 
excellent hunting grounds for brown dwarf {BD} searches.  The AlphaPer and 
Pleiades clusters are young, nearby and have low extinction.  They are 
cosidered to be the best-suited places to study the Substellar Mass.  A 
dozen of cool faint AlphaPer and Pleiades members have been confirmed as 
``bona-fide'' BDs with the lithium test.  By comparison with those, about 
60 very good cluster BD candidates are currently known.  The Pleiades SMF 
obtained using the most recent deep large CCD surveys indicates that BDs 
are quite numerous but do not make a significant contribution to the total 
cluster mass.  The observations completed with no reported problems.

    1.16 Completed WF/PC-2 8816 (Cycle 9 UV Earthflats)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to obtain sequences of earth streak flats to 
improve the quality of pipeline flat fields for the WFPC2 UV filter set and 
in order to monitor flat field stability.  There were no reported problems.

    1.17 Completed WF/PC-2 7407 (Continuation of Temporal Monitoring of the 
Crab Synchrotron Nebula)

        The WF/PC-2 was used to observe the synchrotron nebula surrounding 
the Crab pulsar that has been the subject of intensive study for 
decades.  It is generally accepted that the structure and activity in this 
region are due to wave phenomena near the termination shock of the pulsar 
wind, observations of which hold unique promise of leading to more complete 
models of the pulsar and its magnetosphere.  Unfortunately, this promise 
has not been fulfilled, largely because of the low spatial resolution and 
uneven temporal coverage of existing studies.  Recent WF/PC-2 observations 
of the Crab synchrotron nebula offer new hope in this quest.  These data, 
which reach the natural size scale defined by the Larmor radius of 
energetic electrons, resolve the majority of the the known features in the 
Crab.  For the first time it is possible to reliably establish the physical 
conditions {e.g., emissivities, equipartition fields, and pressures} of 
features associated with the wind and its termination shock.  The losses of 
lock mentioned in HSTAR 7863 and 2.1 occurred during this proposal, 
possibly affecting observations.  Otherwise, the observation completed with 
as planned.

2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY:

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

        Per HSTAR 7863, following the acquisition beginning at 265/233055Z, 
there were three losses of lock: at 265/235839Z, at 266/001210Z, and at 
266/001444Z.  In each case lock was recovered by the automatic re-issuing 
of new #44 commands.  The proposals described in 1.13 and 1.17 may have 
been affected.
  Scheduled Re-acquisitions:  6
Successful:  6



    2.2 FHST Updates:
Scheduled: 21
Successful: 21

    2.3 Operations Notes:

        One two occasions, using ROP SR-1A, the SSR EDAC error counter was 
cleared.

        Per ROP DF-18A, the 486 engineering status buffer limits were 
modified twice.

      A TTR was written when there was no MA forward signal during a 
support at 265/1315Z.

        Another TTR was written for two command dropouts, requiring 
commands to be re-transmitted: at 266/034554Z and at 266/090759Z

        Engineering Report (0) was cleared at 266/0352Z as directed by ROP 
NS-5.

3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

        Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations.

/CAW