Understanding New Structures Ejected from Recurrent Nova T Pyx

Crotts et al. Small GO T Pyx proposal - resubmitted with corrected PDF attachment 1680288228 Assigned ID: 695 ----- Attempting Submission 1 (Fri Apr 11 19:09:11 GMT 2014) ----- HST Phase I Proposal 695 (tpyx22.apt) successfully submitted. ----- Attempting Submission 2 (Fri Apr 11 20:04:48 GMT 2014) ----- This proposal consists of three visits to perform WFC3 narrow-band imaging (Visit 01) and STIS spectroscopy (Visits 02 & 03) on the rapidly-evolving remnant of the 2011 outburst of recurrent Nova T Pyx. The rapid evolution and fading of features seen in atomic emission lines, combined with key roll angles needed for the spectral slit positions require us to execute these observations as quickly as possible in July 2014. This second version of the Phase II .apt file contains all eleven orbits that were awarded. The first three orbits in the WFC3 imaging Visit 01 have previously been submitted and are scheduling in the 07--14 July window. We will use the resulting brightness and spatial information in planning the STIS spectroscopic Visits 02 & 03 submitted now. The plan submitted here is our default: four orbits of STIS CCD G430L spectroscopy in Visit 02 and four orbits of STIS CCD G750L spectroscopy in Visit 03. The roll angle requirement has been increased from the ideal of 140.99 degrees (exactly matching our June 2013 spectra) to as large as 122.99 degrees to allow a scheduling window as late as 26-July-2014, 23:59. The most likely change from this default plan for Visits 02 & 03 would be to re-apportion the orbital balance between the two gratings, e.g. putting all eight orbits into the G430L grating. -1425081802 ----- Attempting Submission 1 (Tue Jun 24 19:01:58 GMT 2014) ----- ----- Attempting Submission 2 (Tue Jul 01 01:18:30 GMT 2014) ----- Understanding New Structures Ejected from Recurrent Nova T Pyx Recurrent nova T Pyxidis has recognized, major scientific significance but is a rapidly and surprisingly changing object, now fading quickly. Since its 2011 outburst (the first since 1966 but sixth since 1890), T Pyx has been the target of multispectral observation, including 60 HST orbits by several groups. Our group's HST observations of T Pyx not only have produced a reliable, geometrically determined distance to T Pyx and mapped the ejecta from pre-2011 outbursts, but have also revealed several new and unprecendented structures from the latest outburst, on scales of tenths of an arcsecond. With observations from GO program 13400, we parsimoniously determined the geometry and kinematics of these several new structures, but issues remain. A pair of jet-like spots frame the central ring-like disk structure, but based on simple assumptions have been ejected at an angle unaligned with the ring. We need another epoch of imaging to determine the proper motion of these spots to settle whether their kinematics are simple, or might instead suffer acceleration, deceleration or unaligned motion. More broadly, additional HST data are needed to determine the nature and origin the three morphological structures that are evident in our previous HST images, and to uncover their relationship to the distinct kinematic components of the ejecta inferred from ground-based monitoring. We request minimal visits of WFC3+STIS to establish a third epoch to rule out or verify competing hypotheses. The requested observations have implications for the ejection and shaping of remnants in nova explosions, binary stellar evolution, and the generation of shocks and gamma-rays in novae. This proposal consists of two visits to perform WFC3 narrow-band imaging (Visit 01) and STIS spectroscopy (Visit 02) on the rapidly-evolving and fading remnant of the 2011 outburst of recurrent Nova T Pyx. The rapid evolution and fading of features seen in atomic emission lines, combined with key roll angles needed for the spectral slit positions require us to execute these observations as quickly as possible in July 2014. This second version of the Phase II .apt file includes the preliminary/default plan for the final eight orbits of STIS spectroscopy that were awarded to us, distributed across Visit 02 (four orbits of G430L) and Visit 03 (four orbits of G750L). As soon as we receive the data from our WFC3 F502N & F657N imaging from Visit 01 (scheduling within 07--14 July 2014), we will use the resulting brightness and spatial information in refining this plan for the STIS spectroscopic visits. The most likely change to the default spectroscopic observing plan presented here would be to shift all of the orbits of both visits to one grating, either G430L or G750L. As described in the Phase I proposal and the visit descriptions here, we are striking a compromise between repeating the ideal slit PA from GO 13400 Visit 05 [which had PA_APER=95.64, PA_V3=320.99, and PA_U3=140.99; see e.g. exposure oc7p05010] and scheduling the visit as early as possible in July 2014. We hope that it is possible to schedule Visits 02 & 03 before July 26th, and at the smallest PA_U3 possible. The chosen maximum roll angle requirement, STIS-ALONG-SLIT dither pattern and total exposure times in each orbit have been carefully chosen to allow a free and open schedule between now and 26-July-2014 23:59. 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. T-PYX J2000 J2000 WFC3/UVIS Imaging No No F502N WFC3/UVIS Imaging No No F657N WFC3/UVIS Imaging No No F656N WFC3/UVIS Imaging No No F658N STIS/CCD Spectroscopic No No G430L 4300 STIS/CCD Spectroscopic No No G750L 7751 POS-TARG DITHER 0.173 LINE 0.112 false false 81.785 4 23.884 WFC3-UVIS-DITHER-BOX 1

false

POS-TARG DITHER 0.5078 LINE false false 4 90.0 STIS-ALONG-SLIT 4

false

The scheduling data was generated by CASM 22.2. CASM was run in Phase II mode. 1403658502623 The purpose of Visit 01 is to take images of the highly variable and unpredictable recurrent nova T Pyx. This visit should be timed as soon as possible in early July of 2014, to provide intensity and orientation information for determining the exposure time balance between G430L and G750L gratings in the STIS spectroscopic visit (Visit 02) to follow in mid- to late July 2014. The July timing of the spectroscopy in Visit 02 is necessary to match the jet axis and to duplicate Cycle 21 spectra. This imaging visit requires three orbits, for a total of ~2600 seconds in F502N ( [O III] ) and ~5400 seconds in F657N ( Ha+[N II] ). 1404956873000 150.98952237913522 (Tic-Visit :proposal-id 13796 :visit-id "01" :proposal-version -1 :trans-version "20140319" :date "24-Jun-2014 21:08:22.0" :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 213904 :tdrss-contact-duration 0 :coron NIL ) (Tic-Obset :proposal-id 13796 :visit-id "01" :obset-id "01" :pcs-mode "FGS" ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 13796 :visit-id "01" :orbit-number 1 :pcs-time 333 :si-vis-utilization 2904 :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 13796 :visit-id "01" :orbit-number 2 :pcs-time 222 :si-vis-utilization 3004 :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 13796 :visit-id "01" :orbit-number 3 :pcs-time 222 :si-vis-utilization 3004 :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 3 0 The scheduling data was generated by CASM 22.2. CASM was run in Phase II mode. 1403994897732 The purpose of Visit 02 is to take STIS CCD G430L spectra of the highly variable and unpredictable recurrent nova T Pyx. It has been separated from the STIS CCD G750L spectra in Visit 03 to keep the visit orbit requests for each below the requested 5 orbit limit. Visits 02 and 03 are critically timed to occur when the STIS slit corresponds as best as possible to the major principal axis of the jet-like knots seen in the nova remnant and to match as closely as possible G430L spectra taken during GO 13400 Visit 05 [which had PA_APER=95.64, PA_V3=320.99, and PA_U3=140.99; see e.g. exposure oc7p05010]. Hence this visit must be executed as early as possible in July 2014. The MaxOrient=162.99 degrees condition specficied in this visit is a balance between minimizing the PA change from GO 13400, but opening the scheduling window as late as 26-July-2014. If the F657N and F502N imaging from Visit 01 reveal dramatic fading since the last imaging in September 2013, we are prepared to shift all of the allotted eight orbits across both visits into a single grating---either G430L or G750L. (Tic-Visit :proposal-id 13796 :visit-id "02" :proposal-version -1 :trans-version "20140605" :date "28-Jun-2014 18:34:57.0" :trans-errors '(:WARNINGS 0 :ERRORS 0 :HEALTH-AND-SAFETY 0 :FATAL-ERRORS 0 :CONTINUABLE-FATALS 0) :number-of-orbits 4 :saa-model "24" :si-bright-earth-limb-angle 20.0 :data-volume 681392 :tdrss-contact-duration 0 :coron NIL ) (Tic-Obset :proposal-id 13796 :visit-id "02" :obset-id "02" :pcs-mode "FGS" ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 13796 :visit-id "02" :orbit-number 1 :pcs-time 333 :si-vis-utilization 2705 :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 3257 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 13796 :visit-id "02" :orbit-number 2 :pcs-time 222 :si-vis-utilization 2814 :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 3257 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 13796 :visit-id "02" :orbit-number 3 :pcs-time 222 :si-vis-utilization 2816 :al-overhead-at-end 119 :internal-dur-at-end 0 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3257 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 13796 :visit-id "02" :orbit-number 4 :pcs-time 222 :si-vis-utilization 2659 :al-overhead-at-end 119 :internal-dur-at-end 439 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3257 :pcs-gap 0 ) true 4 0 The scheduling data was generated by CASM 22.2. CASM was run in Phase II mode. 1403997456598 The purpose of Visit 03 is to take STIS CCD G750L spectra of the highly variable and unpredictable recurrent nova T Pyx. It has been separated from the STIS CCD G430L spectra in Visit 02 to keep the visit orbit requests for each below the requested 5 orbit limit. Visits 02 and 03 are critically timed to occur when the STIS slit corresponds as best as possible to the major principal axis of the jet-like knots seen in the nova remnant and to match as closely as possible G430L spectra taken during GO 13400 Visit 05 [which had PA_APER=95.64, PA_V3=320.99, and PA_U3=140.99; see e.g. exposure oc7p05010]. Hence this visit must be executed as early as possible in July 2014. The MaxOrient=162.99 degrees condition specficied in this visit is a balance between minimizing the PA change from GO 13400, but opening the scheduling window as late as 26-July-2014 23:59. If the F657N and F502N imaging from Visit 01 reveal dramatic fading since the last imaging in September 2013, we are prepared to shift all of the allotted eight orbits across both visits into a single grating---either G430L or G750L. (Tic-Visit :proposal-id 13796 :visit-id "03" :proposal-version -1 :trans-version "20140605" :date "28-Jun-2014 19:17:36.0" :trans-errors '(:WARNINGS 0 :ERRORS 0 :HEALTH-AND-SAFETY 0 :FATAL-ERRORS 0 :CONTINUABLE-FATALS 0) :number-of-orbits 4 :saa-model "24" :si-bright-earth-limb-angle 20.0 :data-volume 718208 :tdrss-contact-duration 0 :coron NIL ) (Tic-Obset :proposal-id 13796 :visit-id "03" :obset-id "03" :pcs-mode "FGS" ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 13796 :visit-id "03" :orbit-number 1 :pcs-time 333 :si-vis-utilization 2709 :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 3257 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 13796 :visit-id "03" :orbit-number 2 :pcs-time 222 :si-vis-utilization 2814 :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 3257 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 13796 :visit-id "03" :orbit-number 3 :pcs-time 222 :si-vis-utilization 2816 :al-overhead-at-end 119 :internal-dur-at-end 0 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3257 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 13796 :visit-id "03" :orbit-number 4 :pcs-time 222 :si-vis-utilization 2659 :al-overhead-at-end 119 :internal-dur-at-end 599 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3257 :pcs-gap 0 ) true 4 0