13120( 3) - 26-Sep-2012 16:05:38 - [ 1] HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OBSERVING PROGRAM 13120 Version: 3 Check-in Time: 26-Sep-2012 16:05:38 STScI Edit Number: 1 Title STIS Observations of the Galactic nova Mon 2012: a new type of > 100 MeV gamma ray emitter ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Type Cycle GO/DD 19 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Investigators Contact? PI: Dr. Steve Shore Universita di Pisa Y CoI: Dr. Gregory James Schwarz American Astronomical Society N CoI: Dr. Sumner G. Starrfield Arizona State University N CoI: Dr. Nye Evans University of Keele N CoI: Dr. Frederick M. Walter State University of New York at Stony N Brook CoI: Dr. Jan-Uwe Ness European Space Agency - ESTEC N CoI: Dr. Julian P. Osborne University of Leicester N CoI: Dr. Teddy Cheung Naval Research Laboratory N CoI: Mr. Ivan De Gennaro Aquino Universita di Pisa N ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Abstract We propose a single orbit DDT/ ToO observation sequence of Nova Mon 2012 using the HST/STIS echelle at medium resolution from 1150 - 3100A. This is the first nova ever discovered in gamma-rays at energies above 100 MeV before optical discovery. Based on optical spectroscopy, Nova Mon 2012 appears to be a close match to V382 Vel 1999 and indicates that the gamma-ray detection occurred at the start of the explosion and expansion. This is a signal of a completely new physical process in classical novae that is relevant to the whole gamut of explosive, high velocity ejection events. We have indications this is a member of the ONe class, thought to occur on the highest mass white dwarfs (WDs) and related to the recurrent novae, which are likely very close to the Chandrasekhar limit. The spectroscopic signature is enhanced Ne emission lines that indicate deep mixing between the WD envelope and the accreted material at the start of the thermonuclear runaway that leads to the explosion. This nova was likely discovered optically well after the peak and there are no useable optical lines that now indicate the enhanced composition of the heavier elements. The ultraviolet provides the only opportunity to study important nucleosynthetic products, especially neon, and the ground state transitions of the other CNO products, and to determine energetics, and the velocity and density structure of the ejecta along with direct measurement of the interstellar line of sight. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Observations Description ------------------------ The program requests one orbit with two HST/STIS medium resolution echelle spectra for N Mon 2012: one 600 sec E140M exposure and one 300 sec E230M ($\lambda_c=$1978\AA) exposure. This covers the all of the important transitions, spectral interval with the strongest continuum emission, and covers the interstellar lines and 2175\AA\ feature. Our estimates are based on the last archival V382 Vel spectra from 1999 Aug. 29, approximately the same period as our proposed observations of Nova Mon 2012. For the E230M, the 13120( 3) - 26-Sep-2012 16:05:38 - [ 2] expected SNR$ >$21 and the most important emission lines for our purposes will be very well exposed. For the 600 sec E140M, SNR > 21 and well exposes the continuum and especially the Ne IV] and Ne V] emission lines around 1600\AA. We therefore request a total of 900 sec exposure time; with overhead for two exposures and ACQ the total sequence, about 42 min, should fit within a single target visibility interval of one orbit. Real Time Justification ----------------------- Calibration Justification ------------------------- Additional Comments ------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 13120( 3) - 26-Sep-2012 16:05:38 - [ 3] TARGET LIST Fixed Targets ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tar| Target | Target | Target |Coord | Radial | Flux data No | Name | Description | Position |Eqnx | Vel. | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 NOVA-MON-201 STAR, CLASSICAL NOVA RA=06H39M38.5700S +/- 0.1", J2000 V = 10.6 +/- 0.2 2 DEC=+05D53'53.40" +/- 0.1" Reference Frame: ICRS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 13120( 3) - 26-Sep-2012 16:05:38 - [ 4] Visit: 01 Visit Requirements: BETWEEN 10-OCT-2012:00:00:00 AND 10-DEC-2012:00:00:00 On Hold Comments: Additional Comments: Exposures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Exp | Target | Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Central| Optional |Num| Time | Special Num | Name | Config | Mode | or FOV |Element |Waveln.| Parameters |Exp| | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 NOVA-MON-20 STIS/CCD ACQ F25ND3 MIRROR 1 10 S 12 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 NOVA-MON-20 STIS/FUV ACCUM 0.2X0.2 E140M 1425 1 950 S 12 -MAMA see below ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3 NOVA-MON-20 STIS/NUV ACCUM 0.2X0.2 E230M 1978 1 300 S 12 -MAMA see below ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4 NOVA-MON-20 STIS/NUV ACCUM 0.2X0.2 E230M 2707 1 400 S 12 -MAMA see below ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sub Exposures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Target | Exp |Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Cent.|Primary |Secondary |Iteration |CR-SPLIT |Orbit |Duration Name | Num |Config | Mode | or FOV |Element |Wave.|Pattern Pos |Pattern Pos |Num |Num |Number | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ NOVA-MON-2012 1 STIS/CCD ACQ F25ND3 MIRROR none none none none 1 N/A NOVA-MON-2012 2 STIS/FUV ACCUM 0.2X0.2 E140M 1425 none none none none 1 960.0 S -MAMA NOVA-MON-2012 3 STIS/NUV ACCUM 0.2X0.2 E230M 1978 none none none none 1 310.0 S -MAMA NOVA-MON-2012 4 STIS/NUV ACCUM 0.2X0.2 E230M 2707 none none none none 1 410.0 S -MAMA 13120( 3) - 26-Sep-2012 16:05:38 - [ 5] Summary Form for Proposal 13120 Item Used in this proposal ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Apertures 0.2X0.2, F25ND3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Configurations STIS/CCD, STIS/FUV-MAMA, STIS/NUV-MAMA ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Opmodes ACCUM, ACQ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Optional Parameters ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Special Requirements BETWEEN 10-OCT-2012:00:00:00 AND 10-DEC-2012:00:00:00 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Spectral Elements E140M, E230M, MIRROR ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Target Names NOVA-MON-2012 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------