HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE DAILY REPORT #2031 PERIOD COVERED: 0000Z (UTC) 12/29/97 - 0000Z (UTC) 12/30/97 Daily Status Report as of 364/0000Z 1.0 ACTIVITIES SCHEDULED AND ACCOMPLISHED: 1.1 Completed Five 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. 1.2 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. 1.3 Completed NIC/2/3 7453 (The SBF Hubble Diagram) The Near Infrared Camera (Camera Two and Three) was used to make deep NICMOS observations of galactic cluster Abell-3389 to determine its distance using the surface brightness fluctuation {SBF} method. HST is essential for its high spatial resolution which makes it possible to detect and remove globular clusters and background galaxies that contaminate the SBF measurement. The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted. 1.4 Completed 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. 1.5 Completed Two Sets of NIC/2 7808 (NICMOS Coronagraphic Hole Location Test) The Near Infrared Camera (Camera Two) was used to make an observational test of the location of the coronagraphic hole by observing object NGC-2264. This test is designed to effectively test the NICMOS coronagraph hole location flight software. Observations will be taken with and without a bright object in the acquisition box as well as at a different roll angle. At each of these tests, the memory will be downloaded for the acquisition images. A dark calibration image was also taken. (See 2.3 for some outcome details) The observations were executed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted. 1.6 Completed NIC/2 7219 (Ultraluminous Infrared Galaxies) The Near Infrared Camera (Camera Two) was used to make observations of the ultraluminous infrared galaxy ZW0.49.057. The luminous IRAS galaxies are probably powered by nuclear starbursts and/or central AGNs: many of these systems exhibit evidence of recent galactic interaction or merging. The observations were completed as planned, and no problems were reported. 1.7 Completed Seven Sets of WF/PC-2 7786 (Pure Parallel Archive Survey - Continuation) The WF/PC-2 was used to make observations as part of an archival survey program in which the images were taken in parallel with the prime science observations. These WF/PC-2 parallel observations were obtained in the ultraviolet in a search for interesting objects. The observations were completed as planned, and no problems were reported. 1.8 Completed FOC/96 6667 (The Far-UV Evolution of Elliptical Galaxies) The Faint Object Camera (f/96) was used to make far-ultraviolet (UV) observations of a large elliptical galaxy M-4 A370-34 (near M-4). The far-UV spectra of nearby giant elliptical galaxies are characterized by a "UV rising branch", which varies greatly in strength from galaxy to galaxy. The observations were executes as planned, and no problems were reported. 1.9 Completed Six Sets of NIC/2/3 7922 (New NICMOS Modified One Orbit Parallel) The Near Infrared Camera (Cameras Two and Three) 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. 1.10 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. 1.11 Completed STIS/CCD 7635 (STIS CCD Hot Pixel Annealing) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to test the hot pixel annealing procedure. The effectiveness of the CCD hot pixel annealing process is assessed by measuring the dark current behavior before and after annealing and by searching for any window contamination effects. The observations were completed as planned, and no problems were reported. 1.12 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. 1.13 Completed STIS/MA1/MA2 7604 (Cycle 7 MAMA Dark Measurements) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (MA1 and MA2) was used to make MAMA dark measurements. These darks will be used in later image reductions and also trended over the instrument's life time as an indicator of the detector's degradation or damage. The observations were completed as scheduled, and no problems were reported. 1.14 Completed STIS/CCD 7666 (CCD Linearity and Shutter Stability) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) was used to make some CCD linearity and shutter stability calibration checks. CCDs can suffer from non-linearities at low, high {or both} intensity. Such effects can be subtle, but are an important contributor to error budgets for routine science observations and are sometimes recognized only after limitations are detected in careful analyses of science data. The observations were completed as scheduled, and no anomalies were noted. 1.15 Completed STIS/CCD/WF/PC-2 7367 (Multi-wavelength imaging of circumstellar disks in the Orion Nebula) The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (CCD) and the WF/PC-2 were used to make multi-wavelength imaging of circumstellar disk (NGC-1976) seen as a silhouette against the bright emission-line background in the Orion Nebula. With these data one should be able to examine the radial structure of the disk in great detail, and over a wide spatial extent. Before the science observations had started the SI SE was notified of an MCE reset on MAMA2 which occurreds at 363/1758Z while the MAMA had a low voltage on. The MAMA will be recovered via the SMS at 364/1758Zb No science images were lost as a result of this reset. HSTAR 6284 was writted. The observations were completed as planned, and no problems were reported. 1.16 Completed NIC/1/2/3 7328 (High Resolution IR Imaging Survey (IRIS) of the Centers of the Nearest Active Galaxies) The Near Infrared Camera (Camera One, Two and Three) was used to make high resolution infrared observations of the nearest active Markarian galaxy (Markarian-3) 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, and no anomalies were noted. 1.17 Completed NIC/1/2 7454 (The Stellar Content of Powerful Radio Galaxies -- A NICMOS Survey of 0.8 < z < 1.8 3CR Sources) The Near Infrared Camera (Cameras One and Two) was used to make survey observations of the powerful radio galaxies 3C280.0 and 3C256. The study of distant radio galaxies is complicated by their powerful active nucleus, whose emission dominates at rest-frame ultraviolet wavelengths, producing the observed peculiar, elongated morphologies; the underlying stellar component is lost in the glare. The observations were completed as planned, and no anomalies were reported. 2.0 FLIGHT OPERATIONS SUMMARY: 2.1 Guide Star Acquisitions: Scheduled Acquisitions : 8 Successful : 8 Scheduled Reacquisitions : 8 Successful : 8 During a scheduled LOS at 364/0308Z-0322Z there was a Guide Star Acquisition loss of fine lick at 0308-0316Z. Fine Lock Backup was acquired on FGS 3 only. HSTAR 6285 was written. For more details see the next Jan. 05 report. During a scheduled LOS at 364/0312Z-0332Z there was a Guide Star Acquisition loss of fine lick at 0326-0334Z. Fine Lock Backup was acquired on FGS 1 only. HSTAR 6286 was written. For more details see the next Jan. 05 report. 2.2 FHST Updates: Scheduled : 18 Successful : 18 2.3 Operations Notes: The first session of the NICMOS coronagraphic hole on-orbit test (Proposal details described in 1.5) was supported. Reference images and memory dumps were performed at 363/355Z and 363/0705Z respectively. The SSR was dumped at 363/0424Z and 363/0840Z. Data was forwarded to Code 512 for analysis. The next scheduled support for this proposal is at 004/1758Z. The SI SE was notified of an MCE reset on MAMA2 which occurreds at 363/1758Z while the MAMA had a low voltage on. The MAMA will be recovered via the SMS at 364/1758Zb No science images were lost as a result of this reset. HSTAR 6284 was writted. See Observational Note 1.15. 3.0 SIGNIFICANT FORTHCOMING EVENTS: Continuation of normal science observations and calibrations. /DMH