Due to recent changes in the spectrum of T Pyx, we must change the filter selection in imaging Visit 9. The exposure times were adjusted accordingly. -1559036697 ----- Attempting Submission 10 (Wed Sep 18 17:27:54 GMT 2013) ----- Given the striking appearance of the old remnant that surrounds T Pyxidis (T Pyx), and the rapid pace at which this binary is currently evolving, T Pyx is one of the most stunning and interesting recurrent novae (RNe). But it is also one of the most disobedient, with the rate of mass transfer, the mass of the white dwarf, and the speed of the eruptions all inconsistent with standard expectations. In 2011, T Pyx experienced its first eruption in 45 years, providing observers with the long-awaited opportunity to determine the detailed properties of a T Pyx explosion and to test ideas about how these events might have led to T Pyx's unusual state. Our Cycle 20 HST observations of the light echo from the old remnant and direct line emission from the young remnant from 2011 provided one of several surprises: much of the old and young ejecta form a disk or ring inclined with respect to the plane of the sky. The 2011 ejecta also contain multiple kinematic components. But our Cycle 20 observations did not cover enough position angles, or span a long enough time baseline, to enable us to fully disentangle the spatial and velocity structure of the young remnant. In Cycle 21, we propose to take advantage of the unique moment in time when the young remnant is both large enough and bright enough for the spatial extent, expansion, and velocity structure to be clearly mapped. This research has implications for our understanding of the mass expelled in the 2011 eruption of T Pyx, the shaping of nova remnants, and the potential influence of nova eruptions on binary stellar evolution and the production of type Ia supernovae. The purpose of the current version of this Phase II proposal is to execute the three-orbit Visit 1 as soon as possible but before June 28, 2013 if at all possible according to the APT in order to be consistent with the following. We are taking images and spectra of the recurrent nova T Pyx, a highly variable and unpredictable target. These consist of two sets of images (Visits 1 and 4); the first one (Visit 1) which must be taken as soon as possible, since the [Ne V] (F343N) emission nebula is fading rapidly. The second and third visits (Visits 2 and 3) are timed to occur when the STIS slit corresponds to the principal axes of the nebula so as to allow us to define the velocity field, hence must be executed in July and October 2013. Depending on the outcome of each Visit, we might be forced to change exposure times on subsequent Visits, for which a new APT file will be submitted if necessary. The specific timings and adaptive nature of our observations are spelled out in our Phase I proposal, which specify non-disruptive TOO observations. HOT STARS Default false false false false false SUPPORTED STAR CIRCUMSTELLAR MATTER EJECTA NOVA-LIKE RECURRENT NOVA This object was generated by the targetselector and retrieved from the SIMBAD database. The coordinates from SIMBAD appear to be the best available. J2000 J2000 STAR CIRCUMSTELLAR MATTER EJECTA NOVA-LIKE RECURRENT NOVA This object was generated by the targetselector and retrieved from the SIMBAD database. The coordinates from SIMBAD appear to be the best available. J2000 J2000 WFC3/UVIS Imaging No No F502N WFC3/UVIS Imaging No No F343N STIS/CCD Spectroscopic No No G430L 4300 STIS/CCD Spectroscopic No No G430L 4300 WFC3/UVIS Imaging No No F502N POS-TARG DITHER 0.173 LINE 0.112 false false 81.785 4 23.884 WFC3-UVIS-DITHER-BOX 2 false POS-TARG DITHER 0.5 LINE false false 4 90.0 STIS-ALONG-SLIT 3 false POS-TARG DITHER 0.135 LINE false false 3 46.84 WFC3-UVIS-DITHER-LINE-3PT 4 false Timing link suitability includes constraints ([05 After 01 by 7.0 to 45.0 days]) The scheduling data was generated by CASM 21.2. CASM was run in Phase II mode. The [Ne V] (F343N) emission nebula from T Pyx is fading rapidly so Visit 1 must be scheduled as soon as possible and certainly before the end of July 2013. It would be highly preferable if Visit 1 could be scheduled sufficiently in advance of Visit 2 in case exposure times need to be adjusted for Visit 2. This strategy was described in our Phase i proposal in connection with our non-disruptive TOO request. The goal of this Visit 1 is to acquire two dithered images of the T Pyx nebula, on in [Ne V] (F343N) requiring two orbits, and [O III] (F502N) requiring one orbit. 1371611381000 133.86789700004192 (Tic-Visit :proposal-id 13400 :visit-id "01" :proposal-version -1 :trans-version "20130502" :date "29-Jul-2013 12:22:54.0" :trans-errors '(:WARNINGS 0 :ERRORS 0 :HEALTH-AND-SAFETY 0 :FATAL-ERRORS 0 :CONTINUABLE-FATALS 0) :number-of-orbits 3 :saa-model "29" :si-bright-earth-limb-angle 20.0 :data-volume 563088 :tdrss-contact-duration 0 :coron NIL ) (Tic-Obset :proposal-id 13400 :visit-id "01" :obset-id "01" :pcs-mode "FGS" ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 13400 :visit-id "01" :orbit-number 1 :pcs-time 333 :si-vis-utilization 2891 :al-overhead-at-end 171 :internal-dur-at-end 0 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3267 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 13400 :visit-id "01" :orbit-number 2 :pcs-time 222 :si-vis-utilization 2891 :al-overhead-at-end 171 :internal-dur-at-end 0 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3267 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 13400 :visit-id "01" :orbit-number 3 :pcs-time 222 :si-vis-utilization 2957 :al-overhead-at-end 171 :internal-dur-at-end 652 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3267 :pcs-gap 0 ) true 3 0 Timing link suitability includes constraints ([05 After 01 by 7.0 to 45.0 days]) The scheduling data was generated by CASM 21.2. CASM was run in Phase II mode. The purpose of this Visit 05 is to take spectra of the highly variable and unpredictable recurrent nova T Pyx. Visit 05 is timed to occur when the STIS slit corresponds to the major principal axis of the nebula so as to allow us to define the velocity field, hence must be executed in late-June/early-July 2013. The goal of this Visit 05 is to acquire a spectrum in G430L offset to the less noisy portion of the detector, composed of 8 subexposures. 1372397965000 140.9922203567126 (Tic-Visit :proposal-id 13400 :visit-id "05" :proposal-version -1 :trans-version "20130502" :date "29-Jul-2013 12:23:07.0" :trans-errors '(:WARNINGS 0 :ERRORS 0 :HEALTH-AND-SAFETY 0 :FATAL-ERRORS 0 :CONTINUABLE-FATALS 0) :number-of-orbits 3 :saa-model "24" :si-bright-earth-limb-angle 20.0 :data-volume 202928 :tdrss-contact-duration 0 :coron NIL ) (Tic-Obset :proposal-id 13400 :visit-id "05" :obset-id "05" :pcs-mode "FGS" ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 13400 :visit-id "05" :orbit-number 1 :pcs-time 333 :si-vis-utilization 2507 :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 3267 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 13400 :visit-id "05" :orbit-number 2 :pcs-time 222 :si-vis-utilization 2820 :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 3267 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 13400 :visit-id "05" :orbit-number 3 :pcs-time 222 :si-vis-utilization 2797 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 399 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3267 :pcs-gap 0 ) true 3 0 The scheduling data was generated by CASM 21.2. CASM was run in Phase II mode. The [He II] (F469N) emission nebula from T Pyx is fading rapidly so Visit 7 must be scheduled as soon and certainly before the end of July 2013. The purpose of Visit 7 is to supplement information obtained on the longer Visit 1 and spectroscopic Visit 5 to aid in their interpretation. It requires one orbit, mainly on [He II] (F459N) plus to a lesser extent on [Ne V] (F343N) and on [O III] (F502N). 1373849952000 155.8790129034865 (Tic-Visit :proposal-id 13400 :visit-id "07" :proposal-version -1 :trans-version "20130502" :date "29-Jul-2013 12:23:21.0" :trans-errors '(:WARNINGS 0 :ERRORS 0 :HEALTH-AND-SAFETY 0 :FATAL-ERRORS 0 :CONTINUABLE-FATALS 0) :number-of-orbits 1 :saa-model "29" :si-bright-earth-limb-angle 20.0 :data-volume 45776 :tdrss-contact-duration 0 :coron NIL ) (Tic-Obset :proposal-id 13400 :visit-id "07" :obset-id "07" :pcs-mode "FGS" ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 13400 :visit-id "07" :orbit-number 1 :pcs-time 333 :si-vis-utilization 2778 :al-overhead-at-end 43 :internal-dur-at-end 87 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3267 :pcs-gap 0 ) true 1 0 Timing link suitability includes constraints ([09 After 08 by 10.0 to 20.0 days]) The scheduling data was generated by CASM 21.2. CASM was run in Phase II mode. The purpose of this Visit 08 is to take spectra of the highly variable and unpredictable recurrent nova T Pyx. Visit 08 must be timed to occur when the STIS slit corresponds to the minor principal axis of the nebula (ORIENT=230) so as to allow us to define the velocity field, hence must be executed in mid-September 2013. In Visit 08 and 09 some precaution is taken for the source increasing in brightness by a few magnitudes by including a series of shorter exposures corresponding to longer exposure sequences. 1379447685000 234.74837976058484 (Tic-Visit :proposal-id 13400 :visit-id "08" :proposal-version -1 :trans-version "20130502" :date "29-Jul-2013 22:08:12.0" :trans-errors '(:WARNINGS 0 :ERRORS 0 :HEALTH-AND-SAFETY 0 :FATAL-ERRORS 0 :CONTINUABLE-FATALS 0) :number-of-orbits 5 :saa-model "24" :si-bright-earth-limb-angle 20.0 :data-volume 386960 :tdrss-contact-duration 0 :coron NIL ) (Tic-Obset :proposal-id 13400 :visit-id "08" :obset-id "08" :pcs-mode "FGS" ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 13400 :visit-id "08" :orbit-number 1 :pcs-time 333 :si-vis-utilization 2857 :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 3267 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 13400 :visit-id "08" :orbit-number 2 :pcs-time 222 :si-vis-utilization 2976 :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 3267 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 13400 :visit-id "08" :orbit-number 3 :pcs-time 222 :si-vis-utilization 2976 :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 3267 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 13400 :visit-id "08" :orbit-number 4 :pcs-time 222 :si-vis-utilization 2976 :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 3267 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 13400 :visit-id "08" :orbit-number 5 :pcs-time 222 :si-vis-utilization 2979 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 360 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3267 :pcs-gap 0 ) true 5 0 Timing link suitability includes constraints ([09 After 08 by 10.0 to 20.0 days]) The scheduling data was generated by CASM 21.2. CASM was run in Phase II mode. /private/var/folders/ZC/ZCYylVoEHIm8E+rwNIhROU+++TI/-Tmp-/OPVisit1504335596234478269.xml 1379518807373 The purpose of this Visit 09 is to take images of the highly variable and unpredictable recurrent nova T Pyx. This Visit 09 should be timed soon after Visit 08, which must occur in September 2013. It requires two orbits, on [Ne V] (F343N) and on [O III] (F502N). In Visit 08 and 09 some precaution is taken for the source increasing in brightness by a few magnitudes by including a series of shorter exposures corresponding to longer exposure sequences. (Tic-Visit :proposal-id 13400 :visit-id "09" :proposal-version -1 :trans-version "20130502" :date "18-Sep-2013 11:40:06.0" :trans-errors '(:WARNINGS 0 :ERRORS 0 :HEALTH-AND-SAFETY 0 :FATAL-ERRORS 0 :CONTINUABLE-FATALS 0) :number-of-orbits 2 :saa-model "29" :si-bright-earth-limb-angle 20.0 :data-volume 213904 :tdrss-contact-duration 0 :coron NIL ) (Tic-Obset :proposal-id 13400 :visit-id "09" :obset-id "09" :pcs-mode "FGS" ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 13400 :visit-id "09" :orbit-number 1 :pcs-time 333 :si-vis-utilization 2831 :al-overhead-at-end 80 :internal-dur-at-end 0 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3267 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 13400 :visit-id "09" :orbit-number 2 :pcs-time 222 :si-vis-utilization 2941 :al-overhead-at-end 80 :internal-dur-at-end 270 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3267 :pcs-gap 0 ) true 2 0