This submission is for activation of a TOO observation of GRB061222A, which satisfies our trigger criteria. Please activate visits 9,10 for 6 total orbits with NICMOS. ----- Submission 1 (Mon May 15 19:41:49 GMT 2006) ----- ----- Attempting Submission 2 (Thu Apr 05 23:21:33 GMT 2007) ----- Visit planner has not been run because this is a TOO program with generic targets at the present. Assigned ID: 417 ----- Submission 1 (Fri Jan 27 21:11:43 GMT 2006) ----- Gotcha! Using Swift GRBs to Pinpoint the Highest Redshift Galaxies While there is convincing evidence that the Universe was reionized between redshifts of 6.5 and 15, the role of galaxies in this process is still not understood. Several star-forming galaxies at z~6 have been identified in recent deep, narrow-field surveys, but the expensive observations along with cosmic variance and contamination make it difficult to assess their contribution to reionization, or to significantly increase the sample. It has now been demonstrated that gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) exist at z>6, and we have already obtained HST and Spitzer observations of the host galaxy of GRB050904 at z=6.295 using our Cycle 14 program. GRBs have the advantage of being an uncontaminated signpost for star-formation, and their afterglows are sufficiently bright even at z>6 to allow photometric selection (via the Ly-alpha drop out technique) with 2-5 meter telescopes. Spectroscopic confirmation, including detailed information on the host ISM, is also likely (as demonstrated in the case of GRB050904). Using our approved TOO programs at an extensive range of facilities (2-5 m telescopes up to Keck/Magellan/Gemini), we can rapidly find afterglows at z>6 and easily distinguish them from dusty low redshift bursts. This approach is highly efficient compared to current techniques, especially at z>7. Our large allocation on Keck/Magellan/Gemini will also be used to obtain spectroscopy of the afterglows and host galaxies. Here we request to continue our program of imaging GRB-selected z>6 galaxies with NICMOS (z>6), ACS (z~6), and Spitzer/IRAC to characterize their properties (SFR, age, morphology, extinction), and begin to address their role in reionization. These observations are requested as >2 month TOOs, allowing flexibility of scheduling and at the same time taking a unique and timely advantage of the exquisite performance of three of NASA's premier missions.
Target Sample: We will trigger on long-duration gamma-ray bursts detected with the Swift satellite, or by other satellites, for which we have indication from the afterglow emission that the redshift is z>6. The purpose of the study is to image the host galaxy and therefore the observations will be delayed by several weeks (nominally t>2 months, but this will be assessed on a case-by-case basis) to ensure that the afterglow fades away below the detection level of HST. There are two cases: 1. Redshift z~6-7: We will use 2 orbits with ACS+F850LP and 4 orbits with NICMOS/NIC3+F160W. 2. Redshift z>7: We will use only NICMOS/NIC3+F160W for six orbits. The templates supplied with the phase-II are for case (1), but will be modified when targets for this program become available (along with coordinates and the requested time delay before observations are made). COSMOLOGY 6 false 20.0 false false false false false false SUPPORTED GALAXY STARBURST J2000 00 00 0.0000 +00 00 0.00 J2000 GALAXY STARBURST J2000 00 00 0.0000 +00 00 0.00 J2000 GALAXY STARBURST J2000 00 00 0.0000 +00 00 0.00 J2000 GALAXY STARBURST J2000 00 00 0.0000 +00 00 0.00 J2000 GALAXY STARBURST J2000 00 00 0.0000 +00 00 0.00 J2000 NIC3 Imaging No No F160W ACS/WFC Imaging No No F850LP NIC3 Imaging No No F160W ACS/WFC Imaging No No F850LP NIC3 Imaging No No F160W ACS/WFC Imaging No No F850LP NIC3 Imaging No No F160W ACS/WFC Imaging No No F850LP POS-TARG DITHER DITHER 5.06 This is the basic 4-point dither for NIC3 which ensures sub-pixel sampling. All orbits (sequences) start off with a random POS-TARG. This will give 16 sub-pixel positions NIC-XSTRIP-DITH false true 4 23 POS-TARG NIC-SPIRAL-DITH 0 1 false POS-TARG DITHER 0.164148 This the the first half of the 2-orbit 8-point dither LINE false false 4 47.166302 ACS-WFC-DITHER-LINE 2 false POS-TARG DITHER DITHER 2 0.304106 This is the 2nd half of a 2-orbit 8pt dither. It needs to be placed at a pos-targ of 0.279000, 0.0772875 relative to the first half. LINE false false 0.164148 2 137.218994 POS-TARG ACS-WFC-DITHER-LINE 47.166302 3 true This is the 4-orbit NIC3 F160W observations of a z~6 galaxy (paired with visit 02 which is ACS) (Tic-Visit :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "01" :proposal-version -1 :trans-version "20060322" :date "15-May-2006 11:44:52.0" :trans-errors '(:WARNINGS 0 :ERRORS 0 :HEALTH-AND-SAFETY 0 :FATAL-ERRORS 0 :CONTINUABLE-FATALS 0) :number-of-orbits 4 :saa-model "23" :si-bright-earth-limb-angle 20.0 :data-volume 229680 :tdrss-contact-duration 0 :coron NIL ) (Tic-Obset :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "01" :obset-id "01" :pcs-mode "FGS" ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "01" :orbit-number 1 :pcs-time 355 :si-vis-utilization 2766 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 0 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3132 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "01" :orbit-number 2 :pcs-time 355 :si-vis-utilization 2764 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 0 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3132 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "01" :orbit-number 3 :pcs-time 355 :si-vis-utilization 2764 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 0 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3132 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "01" :orbit-number 4 :pcs-time 355 :si-vis-utilization 2738 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 76 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3132 :pcs-gap 0 ) false 4 0 /Users/edoberger/APT/OP-cache/10908-051506-v01.xml Target of opportunity This is the 2-orbit ACS F850LP observations of a z~6 galaxy (paired with visit 01 which is NIC3) (Tic-Visit :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "02" :proposal-version -1 :trans-version "20060322" :date "15-May-2006 11:45:22.0" :trans-errors '(:WARNINGS 0 :ERRORS 0 :HEALTH-AND-SAFETY 0 :FATAL-ERRORS 0 :CONTINUABLE-FATALS 0) :number-of-orbits 2 :saa-model "27" :si-bright-earth-limb-angle 20.0 :data-volume 2273792 :tdrss-contact-duration 0 :coron NIL ) (Tic-Obset :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "02" :obset-id "02" :pcs-mode "FGS" ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "02" :orbit-number 1 :pcs-time 355 :si-vis-utilization 2762 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 0 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3132 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "02" :orbit-number 2 :pcs-time 355 :si-vis-utilization 2764 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 349 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3132 :pcs-gap 0 ) false 2 0 /Users/edoberger/APT/OP-cache/10908-051506-v02.xml This is the 4-orbit NIC3 F160W observations of a z~6 galaxy (paired with visit 04 which is ACS) (Tic-Visit :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "03" :proposal-version -1 :trans-version "20060322" :date "15-May-2006 12:03:42.0" :trans-errors '(:WARNINGS 0 :ERRORS 0 :HEALTH-AND-SAFETY 0 :FATAL-ERRORS 0 :CONTINUABLE-FATALS 0) :number-of-orbits 4 :saa-model "23" :si-bright-earth-limb-angle 20.0 :data-volume 229680 :tdrss-contact-duration 0 :coron NIL ) (Tic-Obset :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "03" :obset-id "03" :pcs-mode "FGS" ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "03" :orbit-number 1 :pcs-time 355 :si-vis-utilization 2766 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 0 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3132 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "03" :orbit-number 2 :pcs-time 355 :si-vis-utilization 2764 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 0 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3132 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "03" :orbit-number 3 :pcs-time 355 :si-vis-utilization 2764 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 0 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3132 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "03" :orbit-number 4 :pcs-time 355 :si-vis-utilization 2738 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 76 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3132 :pcs-gap 0 ) false 4 0 /Users/edoberger/APT/OP-cache/10908-051506-v03.xml Target of opportunity This is the 2-orbit ACS F850LP observations of a z~6 galaxy (paired with visit 03 which is NIC3) (Tic-Visit :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "04" :proposal-version -1 :trans-version "20060322" :date "15-May-2006 12:03:54.0" :trans-errors '(:WARNINGS 0 :ERRORS 0 :HEALTH-AND-SAFETY 0 :FATAL-ERRORS 0 :CONTINUABLE-FATALS 0) :number-of-orbits 2 :saa-model "27" :si-bright-earth-limb-angle 20.0 :data-volume 2273792 :tdrss-contact-duration 0 :coron NIL ) (Tic-Obset :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "04" :obset-id "04" :pcs-mode "FGS" ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "04" :orbit-number 1 :pcs-time 355 :si-vis-utilization 2762 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 0 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3132 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "04" :orbit-number 2 :pcs-time 355 :si-vis-utilization 2764 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 349 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3132 :pcs-gap 0 ) false 2 0 /Users/edoberger/APT/OP-cache/10908-051506-v04.xml Target of opportunity This is the first group of 3-orbit NIC3 F160W observations of a z>7 galaxy (grouped with visit 06 which is the second set of 3-orbit NIC3 observations). Orientation of visits 05 and 06 should be the same. (Tic-Visit :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "05" :proposal-version -1 :trans-version "20060322" :date "15-May-2006 12:04:10.0" :trans-errors '(:WARNINGS 0 :ERRORS 0 :HEALTH-AND-SAFETY 0 :FATAL-ERRORS 0 :CONTINUABLE-FATALS 0) :number-of-orbits 3 :saa-model "23" :si-bright-earth-limb-angle 20.0 :data-volume 172256 :tdrss-contact-duration 0 :coron NIL ) (Tic-Obset :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "05" :obset-id "05" :pcs-mode "FGS" ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "05" :orbit-number 1 :pcs-time 355 :si-vis-utilization 2766 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 0 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3132 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "05" :orbit-number 2 :pcs-time 355 :si-vis-utilization 2764 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 0 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3132 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "05" :orbit-number 3 :pcs-time 355 :si-vis-utilization 2738 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 122 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3132 :pcs-gap 0 ) false 3 0 /Users/edoberger/APT/OP-cache/10908-051506-v05.xml Target of opportunity This is the second group of 3-orbit NIC3 F160W observations of a z>7 galaxy (grouped with visit 05 which is the first set of 3-orbit NIC3 observations). Orientation of visits 05 and 06 should be the same. (Tic-Visit :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "06" :proposal-version -1 :trans-version "20060322" :date "15-May-2006 12:04:22.0" :trans-errors '(:WARNINGS 0 :ERRORS 0 :HEALTH-AND-SAFETY 0 :FATAL-ERRORS 0 :CONTINUABLE-FATALS 0) :number-of-orbits 3 :saa-model "23" :si-bright-earth-limb-angle 20.0 :data-volume 172256 :tdrss-contact-duration 0 :coron NIL ) (Tic-Obset :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "06" :obset-id "06" :pcs-mode "FGS" ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "06" :orbit-number 1 :pcs-time 355 :si-vis-utilization 2766 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 0 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3132 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "06" :orbit-number 2 :pcs-time 355 :si-vis-utilization 2764 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 0 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3132 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "06" :orbit-number 3 :pcs-time 355 :si-vis-utilization 2738 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 122 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3132 :pcs-gap 0 ) false 3 0 /Users/edoberger/APT/OP-cache/10908-051506-v06.xml Target of opportunity This is the first group of 3-orbit NIC3 F160W observations of a z>7 galaxy (grouped with visit 08 which is the second set of 3-orbit NIC3 observations). Orientation of visits 07 and 08 should be the same. (Tic-Visit :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "07" :proposal-version -1 :trans-version "20060322" :date "15-May-2006 12:39:37.0" :trans-errors '(:WARNINGS 0 :ERRORS 0 :HEALTH-AND-SAFETY 0 :FATAL-ERRORS 0 :CONTINUABLE-FATALS 0) :number-of-orbits 3 :saa-model "23" :si-bright-earth-limb-angle 20.0 :data-volume 172256 :tdrss-contact-duration 0 :coron NIL ) (Tic-Obset :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "07" :obset-id "07" :pcs-mode "FGS" ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "07" :orbit-number 1 :pcs-time 355 :si-vis-utilization 2766 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 0 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3132 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "07" :orbit-number 2 :pcs-time 355 :si-vis-utilization 2764 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 0 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3132 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "07" :orbit-number 3 :pcs-time 355 :si-vis-utilization 2738 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 122 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3132 :pcs-gap 0 ) false 3 0 /private/tmp/OPVisit39173.xml Target of opportunity This is the second group of 3-orbit NIC3 F160W observations of a z>7 galaxy (grouped with visit 07 which is the first set of 3-orbit NIC3 observations). Orientation of visits 07 and 08 should be the same. (Tic-Visit :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "08" :proposal-version -1 :trans-version "20060322" :date "15-May-2006 12:39:52.0" :trans-errors '(:WARNINGS 0 :ERRORS 0 :HEALTH-AND-SAFETY 0 :FATAL-ERRORS 0 :CONTINUABLE-FATALS 0) :number-of-orbits 3 :saa-model "23" :si-bright-earth-limb-angle 20.0 :data-volume 172256 :tdrss-contact-duration 0 :coron NIL ) (Tic-Obset :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "08" :obset-id "08" :pcs-mode "FGS" ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "08" :orbit-number 1 :pcs-time 355 :si-vis-utilization 2766 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 0 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3132 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "08" :orbit-number 2 :pcs-time 355 :si-vis-utilization 2764 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 0 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3132 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "08" :orbit-number 3 :pcs-time 355 :si-vis-utilization 2738 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 122 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3132 :pcs-gap 0 ) false 3 0 /private/tmp/OPVisit39174.xml Target of opportunity /private/tmp/OPVisit61365.xml This is the first group of 3-orbit NIC3 F160W observations of GRB061222A (grouped with visit 10 which is the second set of 3-orbit NIC3 observations). Orientation of visits 09 and 10 should be the same. (Tic-Visit :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "09" :proposal-version -1 :trans-version "20061210" :date "05-Apr-2007 16:11:13.0" :trans-errors '(:WARNINGS 0 :ERRORS 0 :HEALTH-AND-SAFETY 0 :FATAL-ERRORS 0 :CONTINUABLE-FATALS 0) :number-of-orbits 3 :saa-model "23" :si-bright-earth-limb-angle 20.0 :data-volume 172256 :tdrss-contact-duration 0 :coron NIL ) (Tic-Obset :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "09" :obset-id "09" :pcs-mode "FGS" ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "09" :orbit-number 1 :pcs-time 355 :si-vis-utilization 2766 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 0 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3183 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "09" :orbit-number 2 :pcs-time 355 :si-vis-utilization 2764 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 0 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3183 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "09" :orbit-number 3 :pcs-time 355 :si-vis-utilization 2738 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 122 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3183 :pcs-gap 0 ) true 3 0 /private/tmp/OPVisit61366.xml This is the second group of 3-orbit NIC3 F160W observations of GRB061222A (grouped with visit 09 which is the first set of 3-orbit NIC3 observations). Orientation of visits 09 and 10 should be the same. (Tic-Visit :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "10" :proposal-version -1 :trans-version "20061210" :date "05-Apr-2007 16:11:16.0" :trans-errors '(:WARNINGS 0 :ERRORS 0 :HEALTH-AND-SAFETY 0 :FATAL-ERRORS 0 :CONTINUABLE-FATALS 0) :number-of-orbits 3 :saa-model "23" :si-bright-earth-limb-angle 20.0 :data-volume 172256 :tdrss-contact-duration 0 :coron NIL ) (Tic-Obset :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "10" :obset-id "10" :pcs-mode "FGS" ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "10" :orbit-number 1 :pcs-time 355 :si-vis-utilization 2766 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 0 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3183 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "10" :orbit-number 2 :pcs-time 355 :si-vis-utilization 2764 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 0 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3183 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 10908 :visit-id "10" :orbit-number 3 :pcs-time 355 :si-vis-utilization 2738 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 122 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3183 :pcs-gap 0 ) true 3 0