HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE DAILY REPORT #2029 PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 12/22/97 - 0000Z (UTC) 12/23/97 Daily Status Report as of 357/0000Z 1.0 ACTIVITIES SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED: 1.1 Completed WF/PC-2 5992 (The Host Galaxies and Environments of BL Lacertae Objects) The WF/PC-2 was used to make short and deep observations of the BL Lacertae class object OJ287. The short exposures will allow study of the inner regions of the host galaxy. The longer exposures will allow a search for faint galaxy companions and any interaction between the faint companion and the AGN. The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted. 1.2 Completed Two Sets of STIS/CCD 7781 (STIS Non-Scripted Parallel Archive Proposal - Full Orbit) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used for a non-scripted parallel archive proposal (one full orbit). The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted. 1.3 Completed Three Sets of NIC/2/3 7922 (New NICMOS Modified One Orbit Parallel) The Near Infrared Camera (Cameras One and Two) was used to make one orbit parallel observations. This proposal obtains "JH" imaging, and G096 and G141 spectroscopy, of sky regions when another instrument is prime. STEP64 sequences are used and two dither positions are obtained for each filter. The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted. 1.4 Completed WF/PC-2 7625 (WF/PC-2 Cycle 7 Earth Flats) The WF/PC-2 was used to make a series of Earth flat calibration images. These flat fields will allow mapping of the OTA illumination pattern and will be used in conjunction with previous internal and external flats to generate new pipeline superflats. The observations were completed as planned, and no anomalies were reported. 1.5 Completed STIS/CCD 7802 (Daily Darks to Update Acquisition Bad Pixel Table) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to make calibration observations to obtain daily darks to update the acquisition bad pixel table. These darks are intended to identify hot pixels for update to the acquisition on-board FSW hot pixel table. Daily hot pixel lists can also be used for science data analysis. The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted. 1.6 Completed Two Sets of WF/PC-2 7621 (WF/PC-2 Cycle 7 Supplemental Darks PT1/3) The WF/PC-2 was used to make supplemental dark calibration images. This set of calibrations is intended to obtain three dark frames every day to provide data for monitoring and characterizing the evolution of hot pixels. The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted. 1.7 Completed NIC/2 7331 (Near-IR Properties of the Bulges of Spiral Galaxies) The Near Infrared Camera (Camera Two) was used to make infrared observations of the bulge in spiral galaxy NGC-2566. Near-IR data at HST resolution are essential for correcting for the effect of dust and will enable us to derive robust nuclear properties for the sample. The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted. 1.8 Completed STIS/CCD 7711 (STIS CCD G750L Fringing Flats.) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to investigate and monitor the STIS CCD flat-field fringing in the G750L grating at its nominal wavelength setting {7751A}. WAVECALs were also taken at the same gain and wavelength setting. Typical S/N = 100 for each integration, and gain = 4 on each. The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted. 1.9 Completed NIC/3 7814 (NICMOS Camera 3 Pointed Super Flats) The Near Infrared Camera (Camera Three) was used to make a "pointer super flat" calibration image. The observations will be used to build high S/N NICMOS flat fields for the different filters. Special commanding is required to move the NICMOS FOM. The observations was completed as planned with no anomalies. 1.10 Completed NIC/2 7634 (CCD Flat-Field Stability and Cosmetic Defect Fraction) The Near Infrared Camera (Camera Two) was used to investigate and monitor the STIS CCD imaging flat-field stability and cosmetic defects over monthly periods throughout Cycle 7. The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted. 1.11 Completed Four Sets of WF/PC-2 7620 (WF/PC-2 Cycle 7 Standard Darks) The WF/PC-2 was used to make a series of Cycle 7 standard dark calibration images. 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. 1.12 Completed WF/PC-2 7203 (Cosmology with the Medium Deep Survey - Short Orbit Cases) The WF/PC-2 was used to take short (about 20 minute) exposures, to be taken in parallel with the prime science observations, using the I filter. These exposures are part of the medium-deep survey, which emphasizes exposures that will be useful in obtaining cosmological parameters. The observations were completed as planned with no problems. 1.13 Completed NIC/1/2/3 7328 (High Resolution IR Imaging Survey (IRIS) of the Centers of the Nearest Active Galaxies) The Near Infrared Camera (Cameras One, Two and Three) was used to make high resolution infrared observations of the nearest active Markarian galaxy NGC-6104 in order to study its inner nuclear region. Observing in the near-IR minimizes the dust obstruction and maximizes sensitivity to the old stellar population which dominates the mass. The observations were executed as scheduled with no anomalies. 1.14 Completed NIC/1/2 7904 (NICMOS Absolute Photometry: Red Standards) The Near Infrared Camera (Cameras One and Two) was used to make observations of standard source CSKD12-CAL in order to execute a red standard absolute photometry calibration. The throughput of NIC/1 and NIC/2 will also be measured using P330E and G191B2B. The observations were finished as planned, and no anomalies were reported. 1.15 Completed NIC/2 7420 (A Near-Infrared Search for Very Low Mass Companions to Stars Within 10 Parsecs of the Sun) The Near Infrared Camera (Camera Two) was used to make searching observations for very low mass companions to variable star LHS1761. This star is known to be within 10 parsecs of the Sun. The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted. 1.16 Completed WF/PC-2/STIS/MA2 7410 (Deep UV Imaging of the Hubble Deep Field) The WF/PC-2 was used to make ultraviolet observations of Hubble Deep Field HDF-STIS-P. The observations will extend the searches for Lyman break galaxies to B~ 29, two magnitudes fainter than possible with the existing HDF data and more than four magnitudes fainter than the current limit of ground-based spectroscopy. The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were reported. 1.17 Completed WF/PC-2 6431 (Determination of the Extragalactric Distance Scale) The WF/PC-2 was used to make observations of the galaxy NGC-3319 to be used in measuring the periods of Cepheid variable stars within this galaxy. This will allow for a more accurate estimate of the distances to these galaxies through the period-luminosity relation for the Cepheid stars. The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted. 2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY: 2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions: Scheduled Acquisitions : 6 Successful : 6 Scheduled Reacquisitions : 5 Successful : 5 2.2 FHST Updates: Scheduled : 9 Successful : 9 2.3 Operations Notes: At 356/144710Z, the FGS1 attitude error vector flagged out of limits high (value =+0.4670E-03, upper limit = +0.4370E-03) during a successful re-acquisition (3,2,2). HSTAR 6278 was written. EPS data was collected using the DIU reader at 356/1949Z. A TTR was written to document a loss of ODM and GCMR capability which began at 356/2039Z (with no impact to operations). 3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS: Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations. /DMH