10415( 7) - 08/25/05 11:30 - [ 1] HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OBSERVING PROGRAM 10415 Version: 7 Check-in Time: 25-Aug-2005 15:29:51 Title A Proper Motion Study of the Ionized Gas in the Vicinity of the Galactic Center Black Hole ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Type Cycle Parallel Pointing Tolerance GO 13 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Investigators Contact? PI: Dr. Susan Stolovy California Institute of Technology CoI: Dr. Douglas A. Roberts The Adler Planetarium N CoI: Dr. Fulvio Melia University of Arizona N CoI: Dr. Farhad Yusef-Zadeh Northwestern University N ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Abstract The Galactic Center's distance of only 8 kpc provides a unique opportunity to study the interaction of a supermassive black hole with its environment at a level of detail not possible for other galaxies. We propose to observe the inner parsec of the Galaxy in the Paschen alpha line with Camera 1 of NICMOS in order to study the kinematics of ionized gas in the vicinity of the supermassive black hole coincident with Sgr A*. Our previous GO program 7842 yielded detailed Pa alpha images revealing complex, filamentary structure at 0.16 arcsec (0.006 pc) resolution. However, proper motions could not be robustly derived from that data set due to the fact that the two epochs were spaced only 7 months apart. In order to follow up on preliminary results showing evidence for high proper motions within 2'' of Sgr A* and to characterize the rest of the central parsec, we propose to obtain two additional epochs within Cycle 13 so that the dataset will comprise independent measurements of the proper motions ranging from intervals of 5 months to 7 years, with the 7 year interval giving a 1 sigma accuracy of 45 km/s. These will be combined with existing radial velocity measurements to provide the first complete characterization of the kinematics of the ionized gas in the central parsec. This is crucial to interpreting the relative importance of gravitational forces, stellar winds, and possible accretion onto or outflow from the black hole. These observations may possibly lead to the first direct observation of gas in the process of accretion (or ejection via a jet) associated with the Galactic Center black hole. The kinematics of the gas may also imply that accretion may be inhibited, and this could explain the low luminosity of Sgr A*. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10415( 7) - 08/25/05 11:30 - [ 2] Observations Description ------------------------ This proposal requires 2 epochs of observation in order to obtain proper motions. Each epoch (visit) is comprised of 2 orbits, with data taken in F187N and F190N.The orientations of visit 2 is matched exactly to the observed orientation of visit 1. Real Time Justification ----------------------- Calibration Justification ------------------------- Additional Comments ------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10415( 7) - 08/25/05 11:30 - [ 3] TARGET LIST Fixed Targets ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tar| Target | Target | Target |Coord | Radial | Flux data No | Name | Description | Position |Eqnx | Vel. | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 SGRASTAR ISM, ACCRETION DISK, RA=17H45M40.0383S +/- 0.1", J2000 V = 35.0 HII REGION DEC=-29D00'28.07" +/- 0.1", PLATE-ID=067N Coordinate Source: HST_IMAGE 2 GCPAA1A ISM, ACCRETION DISK, RA-OFF=-0.1143S +/- 0.1S, DEC- J2000 V = 35.0 HII REGION OFF=2" +/- 0.1", FROM 1, PLATE- ID=067N Coordinate Source: HST_IMAGE 3 GCPAA2A ISM, HII REGION RA-OFF=-0.3049S +/- 0.1S, DEC- J2000 V = 35.0 OFF=-1" +/- 0.1", FROM 1, PLATE- ID=067N Coordinate Source: HST_IMAGE 10415( 7) - 08/25/05 11:30 - [ 4] Patterns ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pattern_Number: 1 Primary_Pattern Secondary_Pattern Pattern_Type NIC-SPIRAL-DITH Pattern_Purpose DITHER Number_Of_Points 6 Point_Spacing 2.8 Line_Spacing Coordinate_Frame POS-TARG Pattern_Orient 225.0 Angle_Between_Sides Center_Pattern NO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pattern_Number: 2 Primary_Pattern Secondary_Pattern Pattern_Type NIC-SPIRAL-DITH Pattern_Purpose DITHER Number_Of_Points 6 Point_Spacing 2.8 Line_Spacing Coordinate_Frame POS-TARG Pattern_Orient 135.0 Angle_Between_Sides Center_Pattern NO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10415( 7) - 08/25/05 11:30 - [ 5] Visit: 01 Visit Priority: Visit Requirements: ORIENT 270.0D TO 270.0 D; BEFORE 21-MAR-2005:00:00:00 On Hold Comments: Additional Comments: Exposures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Exp | Target | Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Central| Optional |Num| Time | Special Num | Name | Config | Mode | or FOV |Element |Waveln.| Parameters |Exp| | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 GCPAA1A NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F187N SAMP-SEQ=STEP32,NSAMP=13, 1 DEF PATTERN 1 1-2 CUM OFFSET=SAM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 GCPAA1A NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F190N SAMP-SEQ=STEP32,NSAMP=13, 1 DEF CUM OFFSET=SAM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3 GCPAA2A NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F187N SAMP-SEQ=STEP32,NSAMP=13, 1 DEF PATTERN 1 3-4 CUM OFFSET=SAM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4 GCPAA2A NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F190N SAMP-SEQ=STEP32,NSAMP=13, 1 DEF CUM OFFSET=SAM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ GCPAA1A 1 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F187N 1 none none none 1 N/A CUM GCPAA1A 1 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F187N 2 none none none 1 N/A CUM GCPAA1A 1 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F187N 3 none none none 1 N/A CUM GCPAA1A 1 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F187N 4 none none none 1 N/A CUM GCPAA1A 1 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F187N 5 none none none 1 N/A CUM GCPAA1A 1 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F187N 6 none none none 1 N/A CUM GCPAA1A 2 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F190N 1 none none none 1 N/A CUM GCPAA1A 2 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F190N 2 none none none 1 N/A CUM GCPAA1A 2 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F190N 3 none none none 1 N/A CUM GCPAA1A 2 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F190N 4 none none none 1 N/A CUM GCPAA1A 2 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F190N 5 none none none 1 N/A CUM 10415( 7) - 08/25/05 11:30 - [ 6] 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 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ GCPAA1A 2 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F190N 6 none none none 1 N/A CUM GCPAA2A 3 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F187N 1 none none none 2 N/A CUM GCPAA2A 3 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F187N 2 none none none 2 N/A CUM GCPAA2A 3 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F187N 3 none none none 2 N/A CUM GCPAA2A 3 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F187N 4 none none none 2 N/A CUM GCPAA2A 3 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F187N 5 none none none 2 N/A CUM GCPAA2A 3 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F187N 6 none none none 2 N/A CUM GCPAA2A 4 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F190N 1 none none none 2 N/A CUM GCPAA2A 4 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F190N 2 none none none 2 N/A CUM GCPAA2A 4 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F190N 3 none none none 2 N/A CUM GCPAA2A 4 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F190N 4 none none none 2 N/A CUM GCPAA2A 4 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F190N 5 none none none 2 N/A CUM GCPAA2A 4 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F190N 6 none none none 2 N/A CUM 10415( 7) - 08/25/05 11:30 - [ 7] Visit: 02 Visit Priority: Visit Requirements: ORIENT 270.32D TO 270.32 D; BEFORE 21-MAR-2006:00:00:00 On Hold Comments: Additional Comments: Exposures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Exp | Target | Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Central| Optional |Num| Time | Special Num | Name | Config | Mode | or FOV |Element |Waveln.| Parameters |Exp| | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 GCPAA1A NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F187N SAMP-SEQ=STEP32,NSAMP=13, 1 DEF PATTERN 1 1-2 CUM OFFSET=SAM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 GCPAA1A NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F190N SAMP-SEQ=STEP32,NSAMP=13, 1 DEF CUM OFFSET=SAM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3 GCPAA2A NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F187N SAMP-SEQ=STEP32,NSAMP=13, 1 DEF PATTERN 1 3-4 CUM OFFSET=SAM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4 GCPAA2A NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F190N SAMP-SEQ=STEP32,NSAMP=13, 1 DEF CUM OFFSET=SAM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ GCPAA1A 1 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F187N 1 none none none 1 N/A CUM GCPAA1A 1 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F187N 2 none none none 1 N/A CUM GCPAA1A 1 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F187N 3 none none none 1 N/A CUM GCPAA1A 1 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F187N 4 none none none 1 N/A CUM GCPAA1A 1 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F187N 5 none none none 1 N/A CUM GCPAA1A 1 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F187N 6 none none none 1 N/A CUM GCPAA1A 2 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F190N 1 none none none 1 N/A CUM GCPAA1A 2 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F190N 2 none none none 1 N/A CUM GCPAA1A 2 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F190N 3 none none none 1 N/A CUM GCPAA1A 2 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F190N 4 none none none 1 N/A CUM GCPAA1A 2 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F190N 5 none none none 1 N/A CUM 10415( 7) - 08/25/05 11:30 - [ 8] 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 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ GCPAA1A 2 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F190N 6 none none none 1 N/A CUM GCPAA2A 3 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F187N 1 none none none 2 N/A CUM GCPAA2A 3 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F187N 2 none none none 2 N/A CUM GCPAA2A 3 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F187N 3 none none none 2 N/A CUM GCPAA2A 3 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F187N 4 none none none 2 N/A CUM GCPAA2A 3 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F187N 5 none none none 2 N/A CUM GCPAA2A 3 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F187N 6 none none none 2 N/A CUM GCPAA2A 4 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F190N 1 none none none 2 N/A CUM GCPAA2A 4 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F190N 2 none none none 2 N/A CUM GCPAA2A 4 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F190N 3 none none none 2 N/A CUM GCPAA2A 4 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F190N 4 none none none 2 N/A CUM GCPAA2A 4 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F190N 5 none none none 2 N/A CUM GCPAA2A 4 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F190N 6 none none none 2 N/A CUM 10415( 7) - 08/25/05 11:30 - [ 9] Summary Form for Proposal 10415 Item Used in this proposal ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Apertures NIC1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Configurations NIC1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Opmodes MULTIACCUM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Optional Parameters SAMP-SEQ=STEP32 NSAMP=13 OFFSET=SAM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Proposal Category GO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Special Requirements ORIENT 270.0D TO 270.0 D; BEFORE 21-MAR-2005 00 00 00 PATTERN 1 1-2 PATTERN 1 3-4 ORIENT 270.32D TO 270.32 D; BEFORE 21-MAR-2006 00 00 00 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Spectral Elements F187N F190N ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Target Names GCPAA1A GCPAA2A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------