Probing the nature and evolution of the oldest known planetary system through Lyman-alpha observations

0 Assigned ID: 40 ----- Attempting Submission 1 (Fri Apr 03 07:24:47 GMT 2015) ----- HST Phase I Proposal 40 (Kepler444.apt) successfully submitted. Receipt: # 40-1 ----- Attempting Submission 2 (Fri Apr 03 12:27:34 GMT 2015) ----- HST Phase I Proposal 40 (Kepler444.apt) successfully submitted. Receipt: # 40-2 Timing requirements for Visit 53 have been defined. -406859491 ----- Attempting Submission 1 (Wed Jul 08 08:48:02 GMT 2015) ----- HST Phase II Proposal 14143 (Kepler444.apt) successfully submitted. Receipt: # 14143-1 ----- Attempting Submission 2 (Mon Aug 03 11:25:40 GMT 2015) ----- HST Phase II Proposal 14143 (Kepler444.apt) successfully submitted. Receipt: # 14143-2 ----- Attempting Submission 3 (Thu Sep 10 16:33:19 GMT 2015) ----- HST Phase II Proposal 14143 (Kepler444.apt) successfully submitted. Receipt: # 14143-3 ----- Attempting Submission 4 (Mon Sep 14 20:08:14 GMT 2015) ----- ----- Attempting Submission 5 (Fri Dec 18 08:53:06 GMT 2015) ----- ----- Attempting Submission 6 (Thu Mar 17 23:50:36 GMT 2016) ----- ----- Attempting Submission 7 (Fri Mar 18 16:55:27 GMT 2016) ----- ----- Attempting Submission 8 (Tue May 10 15:51:06 GMT 2016) ----- ----- Attempting Submission 9 (Tue May 10 21:24:26 GMT 2016) ----- ----- Attempting Submission 10 (Thu May 12 13:14:40 GMT 2016) ----- ----- Attempting Submission 11 (Thu May 19 13:12:40 GMT 2016) ----- Probing the nature and evolution of the oldest known planetary system through Lyman-alpha observations Five planets smaller than the Earth were recently detected at close orbital distances in the oldest known planetary system, Kepler-444. Their inward migration from larger separations implies that these planets may have accreted large envelopes of molecular hydrogen or water during their formation. Later-on, stellar irradiation would have led to the photodissociation of this envelope, and the formation of a large, extended atmosphere of atomic hydrogen flowing beyond the Roche lobe. We estimate that the two outer and largest planets (Kepler 444 'e' and 'f') would not have completely lost their hydrogen envelop over the system lifetime, and that signatures of atmospheric escape could be detected with HST/STIS at Lyman-alpha. A bright and close star (V=8.9; d=35.7 pc), Kepler-444 has also a high proper motion (gamma=-120 km/s) that will allow for the first time to probe the entire blue wing and the core of the Lyman-alpha line, where absorption arises from the expanding flow of hydrogen in the thermosphere of the planets. Small planets show a large diversity in nature and composition, which can only be investigated through observations of their atmosphere. No such observations have ever been made for planets as old and small as the sub-Earths of the Kepler-444 system. Given the shallowness of their transit, the only part of their atmospheres that can be observed is an extended atmosphere of hydrogen. This program consists in 4 visits for a total of 18 HST orbits, dedicated to the observations of the transits of two exoplanets (Kepler 444 'e' and 'f') in front of their host-star. In 2 visits of 5 orbits each we will observe the transit of Kepler 444 'e'. In 2 visits of 4 orbits each we will observe the transit of the exoplanet Kepler 444 'f'. For planet 'e', transits occur every 7.74 days (the orbital period of the planet) and last for 2.84 hours. For planet 'f', transits occur every 9.74 days and last for 1.85 hours. The instrumental setup is the same for all visits. The timing requirements are set as phase constraints on the first ACQ exposure of the first orbit in a visit. For each visit, the goal is to observe the star during two HST orbits before the transit, one or two HST orbits during the transit, and one or two HST orbits after the transit. The allowed start phase range is ~33 min for Visit#1 and #2 (planet 'e'), and about ~21 min for Visit#3 and #4 (planet 'f') EXTRA-SOLAR PLANETS 12 false true false false false false AVAILABLE STAR EXTRA-SOLAR PLANETARY SYSTEM K III-I NO All target properties come from the SIMBAD database. The star has Hipparcos astrometric coordinates (HIP 94931). We used the confirmation charts to check that the coordinates and proper motion were correct. This star is in a double (possibly triple) system with common proper motions. The secondary companion is a much fainter M dwarf (or two M dwarfs) with magnitude difference of 3.5, and located 1.9 arcsec away from the primary. KEPLER-444 HIP94931 J2000 J2000 U=10.01, B=9.67 STIS/FUV-MAMA Spectroscopic No No G140M 1222 STIS/FUV-MAMA Spectroscopic No No G140M 1222 1463663481168 The scheduling data was generated by CASM 24.0. CASM was run in Phase II mode. /private/var/folders/33/rs56p2wx5q174bfyvvm_nq1m0000gn/T/OPVisit8167916821687655162.xml 1447861574000 50.0 (Tic-Visit :proposal-id 14143 :visit-id "01" :proposal-version -1 :trans-version "20160129" :date "19-May-2016 15:11:20.0" :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 785952 :tdrss-contact-duration 0 :coron NIL ) (Tic-Obset :proposal-id 14143 :visit-id "01" :obset-id "01" :pcs-mode "FGS" ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 14143 :visit-id "01" :orbit-number 1 :pcs-time 333 :si-vis-utilization 2658 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 320 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 2991 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 14143 :visit-id "01" :orbit-number 2 :pcs-time 222 :si-vis-utilization 2769 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 320 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 2991 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 14143 :visit-id "01" :orbit-number 3 :pcs-time 222 :si-vis-utilization 2769 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 320 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 2991 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 14143 :visit-id "01" :orbit-number 4 :pcs-time 222 :si-vis-utilization 2769 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 320 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 2991 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 14143 :visit-id "01" :orbit-number 5 :pcs-time 222 :si-vis-utilization 2769 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 639 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 2991 :pcs-gap 0 ) true 5 0 The target is too bright for the longpass filter, and the F28X50OII was selected instead. The ETC run was made with a user-defined spectrum, with a conservative estimation of the Lyman-alpha emission profile and high airglow emission. We are basically photon-starved and set the exposure time to the maximum possible value. The estimated count-rate (see ETC run) is 184 counts/s, which leads to define the buffer-time as Texp/2 for the orbits of all visits (rounded to 1000s for the first orbits, and 1200s for the others). 1463663484630 The scheduling data was generated by CASM 24.0. CASM was run in Phase II mode. /private/var/folders/33/rs56p2wx5q174bfyvvm_nq1m0000gn/T/OPVisit7215671005684903346.xml 1462419046000 242.81690402059627 (Tic-Visit :proposal-id 14143 :visit-id "02" :proposal-version -1 :trans-version "20160129" :date "19-May-2016 15:11:23.0" :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 785952 :tdrss-contact-duration 0 :coron NIL ) (Tic-Obset :proposal-id 14143 :visit-id "02" :obset-id "02" :pcs-mode "FGS" ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 14143 :visit-id "02" :orbit-number 1 :pcs-time 333 :si-vis-utilization 2658 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 320 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 2991 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 14143 :visit-id "02" :orbit-number 2 :pcs-time 222 :si-vis-utilization 2769 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 320 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 2991 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 14143 :visit-id "02" :orbit-number 3 :pcs-time 222 :si-vis-utilization 2769 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 320 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 2991 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 14143 :visit-id "02" :orbit-number 4 :pcs-time 222 :si-vis-utilization 2769 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 320 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 2991 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 14143 :visit-id "02" :orbit-number 5 :pcs-time 222 :si-vis-utilization 2769 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 639 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 2991 :pcs-gap 0 ) true 5 0 The target is too bright for the longpass filter, and the F28X50OII was selected instead. The ETC run was made with a user-defined spectrum, with a conservative estimation of the Lyman-alpha emission profile and high airglow emission. We are basically photon-starved and set the exposure time to the maximum possible value. The estimated count-rate (see ETC run) is 184 counts/s, which leads to define the buffer-time as Texp/2 for the orbits of all visits (rounded to 1000s for the first orbits, and 1200s for the others). 1463663487561 The scheduling data was generated by CASM 24.0. CASM was run in Phase II mode. /private/var/folders/33/rs56p2wx5q174bfyvvm_nq1m0000gn/T/OPVisit1025124024550622349.xml 1449481407000 34.9821729676373 (Tic-Visit :proposal-id 14143 :visit-id "03" :proposal-version -1 :trans-version "20160129" :date "19-May-2016 15:11:26.0" :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 628848 :tdrss-contact-duration 0 :coron NIL ) (Tic-Obset :proposal-id 14143 :visit-id "03" :obset-id "03" :pcs-mode "FGS" ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 14143 :visit-id "03" :orbit-number 1 :pcs-time 333 :si-vis-utilization 2658 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 320 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 2991 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 14143 :visit-id "03" :orbit-number 2 :pcs-time 222 :si-vis-utilization 2769 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 320 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 2991 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 14143 :visit-id "03" :orbit-number 3 :pcs-time 222 :si-vis-utilization 2769 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 320 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 2991 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 14143 :visit-id "03" :orbit-number 4 :pcs-time 222 :si-vis-utilization 2769 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 639 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 2991 :pcs-gap 0 ) true 4 0 The target is too bright for the longpass filter, and the F28X50OII was selected instead. The ETC run was made with a user-defined spectrum, with a conservative estimation of the Lyman-alpha emission profile and high airglow emission. We are basically photon-starved and set the exposure time to the maximum possible value. The estimated count-rate (see ETC run) is 184 counts/s, which leads to define the buffer-time as Texp/2 for the orbits of all visits (rounded to 1000s for the first orbits, and 1200s for the others). 1463663490299 The scheduling data was generated by CASM 24.0. CASM was run in Phase II mode. /private/var/folders/33/rs56p2wx5q174bfyvvm_nq1m0000gn/T/OPVisit3504741881009054483.xml 1450323133000 29.5 (Tic-Visit :proposal-id 14143 :visit-id "04" :proposal-version -1 :trans-version "20160129" :date "19-May-2016 15:11:29.0" :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 628848 :tdrss-contact-duration 0 :coron NIL ) (Tic-Obset :proposal-id 14143 :visit-id "04" :obset-id "04" :pcs-mode "FGS" ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 14143 :visit-id "04" :orbit-number 1 :pcs-time 333 :si-vis-utilization 2658 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 320 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 2991 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 14143 :visit-id "04" :orbit-number 2 :pcs-time 222 :si-vis-utilization 2769 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 320 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 2991 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 14143 :visit-id "04" :orbit-number 3 :pcs-time 222 :si-vis-utilization 2769 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 320 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 2991 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 14143 :visit-id "04" :orbit-number 4 :pcs-time 222 :si-vis-utilization 2769 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 639 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 2991 :pcs-gap 0 ) true 4 0 The target is too bright for the longpass filter, and the F28X50OII was selected instead. The ETC run was made with a user-defined spectrum, with a conservative estimation of the Lyman-alpha emission profile and high airglow emission. We are basically photon-starved and set the exposure time to the maximum possible value. The estimated count-rate (see ETC run) is 184 counts/s, which leads to define the buffer-time as Texp/2 for the orbits of all visits (rounded to 1000s for the first orbits, and 1200s for the others). 1463663521633 The scheduling data was generated by CASM 24.0. CASM was run in Phase II mode. /private/var/folders/33/rs56p2wx5q174bfyvvm_nq1m0000gn/T/OPVisit5728814148906835420.xml This visit must be obtained far from the time of transit of the five planets in the Kepler 444 system, to provide a clean estimate of the baseline UV flux from the star. We indicated in the timing requirements specific time windows, obtained by requiring that all planets are between (respective) orbital phases of about 0.45 to 0.9. Observations can start at any time between the given UTC times. We cannot provide phase constraints common to all epochs, because the five planets will be at different orbital phases in each epoch. (Tic-Visit :proposal-id 14143 :visit-id "52" :proposal-version -1 :trans-version "20160129" :date "19-May-2016 15:11:33.0" :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 628848 :tdrss-contact-duration 0 :coron NIL ) (Tic-Obset :proposal-id 14143 :visit-id "52" :obset-id "52" :pcs-mode "FGS" ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 14143 :visit-id "52" :orbit-number 1 :pcs-time 333 :si-vis-utilization 2658 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 320 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 2991 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 14143 :visit-id "52" :orbit-number 2 :pcs-time 222 :si-vis-utilization 2769 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 320 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 2991 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 14143 :visit-id "52" :orbit-number 3 :pcs-time 222 :si-vis-utilization 2769 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 320 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 2991 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 14143 :visit-id "52" :orbit-number 4 :pcs-time 222 :si-vis-utilization 2769 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 639 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 2991 :pcs-gap 0 ) true 4 0 The target is too bright for the longpass filter, and the F28X50OII was selected instead. The ETC run was made with a user-defined spectrum, with a conservative estimation of the Lyman-alpha emission profile and high airglow emission. We are basically photon-starved and set the exposure time to the maximum possible value. The estimated count-rate (see ETC run) is 184 counts/s, which leads to define the buffer-time as Texp/2 for the orbits of all visits (rounded to 1000s for the first orbits, and 1200s for the others). 1463663471725 The scheduling data was generated by CASM 24.0. CASM was run in Phase II mode. /private/var/folders/33/rs56p2wx5q174bfyvvm_nq1m0000gn/T/OPVisit6665156292640759450.xml This one-orbit visit is scheduled to observe the simultaneous transits of the atmospheres of planets Kepler 444 c and f. We indicate in the timing requirements a time window on July 8th that allows such an observation, and also define the corresponding phase constraints with respect to planet c. (Tic-Visit :proposal-id 14143 :visit-id "53" :proposal-version -1 :trans-version "20160129" :date "19-May-2016 15:11:11.0" :trans-errors '(:WARNINGS 0 :ERRORS 0 :HEALTH-AND-SAFETY 0 :FATAL-ERRORS 0 :CONTINUABLE-FATALS 0) :number-of-orbits 1 :saa-model "24" :si-bright-earth-limb-angle 20.0 :data-volume 157536 :tdrss-contact-duration 0 :coron NIL ) (Tic-Obset :proposal-id 14143 :visit-id "53" :obset-id "53" :pcs-mode "FGS" ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 14143 :visit-id "53" :orbit-number 1 :pcs-time 333 :si-vis-utilization 2658 :al-overhead-at-end 0 :internal-dur-at-end 639 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 2991 :pcs-gap 0 ) true 1 0 The target is too bright for the longpass filter, and the F28X50OII was selected instead. The ETC run was made with a user-defined spectrum, with a conservative estimation of the Lyman-alpha emission profile and high airglow emission. We are basically photon-starved and set the exposure time to the maximum possible value. The estimated count-rate (see ETC run) is 184 counts/s, which leads to define the buffer-time as Texp/2 for the orbits of all visits (rounded to 1000s for the first orbits, and 1200s for the others).