10213( 4) - 10/21/04 09:58 - [ 1] PROPOSAL FOR HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OBSERVATIONS ST ScI Use Only ID: 10213 Version: 4 Check-in Date: 21-Oct-2004 13:56:53 1.Proposal Title: Optical identification of two nearby Isolated Neutron Stars through proper motion measuremnt. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2. Proposal For 3. Cycle 4. Parallel Pointing Tolerance GO 13 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5. Investigators Contact? PI: Dr. Silvia Zane Mullard Space Science Laboratory CoI: Dr. Roberto Mignani European Southern Observatory - Germany Y CoI: Prof. Roberto Turolla Universita di Padova N CoI: Mr. Andrea DeLuca Istituto di Astrofisica Spaziale N ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6. Abstract Aim of this proposal is to perform high-resolution imaging of the proposed optical counterparts of the two, radio silent, isolated neutron stars RXJ1308.6+2127 and RX J1605.3+3249 with the STIS/50CCD. Imaging both fields with the same instrumental configuration used in mid 2001 by Kaplan et al (2002; 2003), will allow us to measure the objects' position and to determine their proper motions over a time base of nearly four years. The measurement of proper motions at the level of at least few tens mas/yr, expected for relatively nearby neutron stars, would unambigouosly secure the proposed optical identifications, not achievable otherwise. In addition, the knowledge of the proper motion will provide useful indications on the space velocity and distance of these neutrons stars, as well as on the radius. Constraining these parameters is of paramount importance to discriminate between the variety of emission mechanisms invoked to explain their observed thermal X-ray spectra and to probe the neutron star equation of state (EOS). The determination of the proper motion is a decisive step toward a dedicated follow-up program aimed at measuring the objects' optical parallax, thus providing much firmer constrains on the star properties, again to be performed with the STIS/50CCD. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10213( 4) - 10/21/04 09:58 - [ 2] Observations Description ------------------------ Aim of these observations is to image the field of RX J1605.3+3249 to search for proper motion of its candidate counterparts. The use of the STIS/50CCD and the CLEAR filter will allow a direct comparison with archive observations taken in the same configuration. Real Time Justification ----------------------- Calibration Justification ------------------------- Additional Comments ------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10213( 4) - 10/21/04 09:58 - [ 3] TARGET LIST Fixed Targets ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tar| Target | Target | Target |Coord | Radial | Flux data No | Name | Description | Position |Eqnx | Vel. | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 RXJ1605.3+32 STAR, PULSAR RA=16H05M18.5000S +/- 0.1", J2000 V = 26.84+/-0.07 49 DEC=+32D49'17.40" +/- 0.1", PLATE-ID=01RN Coordinate Source: GSC_SURVEY_PLATE 10213( 4) - 10/21/04 09:58 - [ 4] Visit: 01 Visit Priority: Visit Requirements: PCS MODE FINE; BETWEEN 01-JAN-2005:17:18:33 AND 01-MAR-2005:17:18:33 On Hold Comments: Additional Comments: The visit must be performed at the time of the maximum parallactic displacement of the target. Exposures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Exp | Target | Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Central| Optional |Num| Time | Special Num | Name | Config | Mode | or FOV |Element |Waveln.| Parameters |Exp| | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 RXJ1605.3+3 ACS/WFC ACCUM WFC1-FIX F606W 1 1050 S 249 see below ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 RXJ1605.3+3 ACS/WFC ACCUM WFC1-FIX F606W 1 1050 S 249 see below ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3 RXJ1605.3+3 ACS/WFC ACCUM WFC1-FIX F606W 1 1100 S 249 see below ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4 RXJ1605.3+3 ACS/WFC ACCUM WFC1-FIX F606W 1 1100 S 249 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 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ RXJ1605.3+3249 1 ACS/WFC ACCUM WFC1-FIX F606W none none none 1 1 573.0 S RXJ1605.3+3249 1 ACS/WFC ACCUM WFC1-FIX F606W none none none 2 1 573.0 S RXJ1605.3+3249 2 ACS/WFC ACCUM WFC1-FIX F606W none none none 1 1 573.0 S RXJ1605.3+3249 2 ACS/WFC ACCUM WFC1-FIX F606W none none none 2 1 573.0 S RXJ1605.3+3249 3 ACS/WFC ACCUM WFC1-FIX F606W none none none 1 2 609.0 S RXJ1605.3+3249 3 ACS/WFC ACCUM WFC1-FIX F606W none none none 2 2 609.0 S RXJ1605.3+3249 4 ACS/WFC ACCUM WFC1-FIX F606W none none none 1 2 609.0 S RXJ1605.3+3249 4 ACS/WFC ACCUM WFC1-FIX F606W none none none 2 2 609.0 S 10213( 4) - 10/21/04 09:58 - [ 5] Summary Form for Proposal 10213 Item Used in this proposal ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Apertures WFC1-FIX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Configurations ACS/WFC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Opmodes ACCUM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Proposal Category GO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Special Requirements PCS MODE FINE; BETWEEN 01-JAN-2005 17 18 33 AND 01-MAR-2005 17 18 33 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Spectral Elements F606W ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Target Names RXJ1605.3+3249 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------