11338( 6) - 03-Nov-2009 17:05:51 - [ 1] HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OBSERVING PROGRAM 11338 Version: 6 Check-in Time: 03-Nov-2009 17:05:51 STScI Edit Number: 4 Title Continued M31 Monitoring for Black Hole X-ray Nova ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Type Cycle GO 16 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Investigators Contact? PI: Dr. Michael R. Garcia Smithsonian Institution Astrophysical Observatory CoI: Dr. Jose Galache Smithsonian Institution Astrophysical N Observatory CoI: Dr. Manuel Torres Smithsonian Institution Astrophysical N Observatory CoI: Dr. Stephen S. Murray Smithsonian Institution Astrophysical N Observatory CoI: Dr. Francis Primini Smithsonian Institution Astrophysical N Observatory CoI: Dr. Benjamin F. Williams University of Washington N ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Abstract During A01-7 we found >16 Black Hole X-ray Novae (BHXN) in M31 using Chandra, and with HST followup have estimated orbital periods for 6 of these. Observations are underway with HST to attempt to estimate additional periods. We propose to continue this program, concentrating our scarce HST resources on a single transient which exceeds the NS Eddington limit. Only uninterrupted monitoring can yield the duty cycles and long-term lightcurves of BHXN (and other variables) in M31. Our GO+GTO programs have accumulated 300ks (ACIS) near the M31 bulge, and total ACIS exposure on M31 is now 620ks. Our monitoring program alone can amass 500ks on the bulge if continued through AO12, and combined with other programs will reach >1Msec ACIS exposure on the bulge. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Observations Description ------------------------ We will use the WFPC2 camera to obtain images of an active Black Hole X-ray Nova (BHXN) in M31. This BHXNe will be chosen from one of 6 Chandra-ACIS observations from the AO9. We will wait until a super-Eddington source is detected (Lx > 3e38 erg/s) to trigger the first HST observation, which will take place ~4 weeks later; this will capture the counterpart in a bright optical state. A second HST observation will be carried out ~6 months later to study the source in quiesence. Real Time Justification ----------------------- Calibration Justification ------------------------- 11338( 6) - 03-Nov-2009 17:05:51 - [ 2] Additional Comments ------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 11338( 6) - 03-Nov-2009 17:05:51 - [ 3] TARGET LIST Fixed Targets ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tar| Target | Target | Target |Coord | Radial | Flux data No | Name | Description | Position |Eqnx | Vel. | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 M31-BH UNIDENTIFIED, OPTICAL RA=00H41M59.3000S +/- 1", J2000 V = 25 +/- 5 EMITTER, ULTRAVIOLET DEC=+41D05'39.00" +/- 1" EMITTER, X-RAY EMITTER Reference Frame: Other: Chandra Observation Comments: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 11338( 6) - 03-Nov-2009 17:05:51 - [ 4] Patterns ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pattern_Number: 2 Primary_Pattern Secondary_Pattern Pattern_Type ACS-WFC-DITHER-BOX Pattern_Purpose DITHER Number_Of_Points 4 Point_Spacing 0.265 Line_Spacing 0.187 Coordinate_Frame POS-TARG Pattern_Orient 20.67 Angle_Between_Sides 69.05 Center_Pattern NO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 11338( 6) - 03-Nov-2009 17:05:51 - [ 5] Visit: 15 Visit Requirements: GYRO MODE 3GOBAD; BETWEEN 16-NOV-2009:00:00:00 AND 22-NOV-2009:00:00:00 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 M31-BH ACS/WFC ACCUM WFC F435W GAIN=2.0, CR-SPLIT=NO 2 545 S PATTERN 2 1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ M31-BH 1 ACS/WFC ACCUM WFC F435W 1 none 1 none 1 N/A M31-BH 1 ACS/WFC ACCUM WFC F435W 1 none 2 none 1 N/A M31-BH 1 ACS/WFC ACCUM WFC F435W 2 none 1 none 1 N/A M31-BH 1 ACS/WFC ACCUM WFC F435W 2 none 2 none 1 N/A M31-BH 1 ACS/WFC ACCUM WFC F435W 3 none 1 none 2 N/A M31-BH 1 ACS/WFC ACCUM WFC F435W 3 none 2 none 2 N/A M31-BH 1 ACS/WFC ACCUM WFC F435W 4 none 1 none 2 N/A M31-BH 1 ACS/WFC ACCUM WFC F435W 4 none 2 none 2 N/A 11338( 6) - 03-Nov-2009 17:05:51 - [ 6] Visit: 16 Visit Requirements: GYRO MODE 3GOBAD; AFTER 15 BY 180.0 D TO 210.0 D 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 M31-BH ACS/WFC ACCUM WFC F435W GAIN=2.0, CR-SPLIT=NO 2 545 S PATTERN 2 1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ M31-BH 1 ACS/WFC ACCUM WFC F435W 1 none 1 none 1 N/A M31-BH 1 ACS/WFC ACCUM WFC F435W 1 none 2 none 1 N/A M31-BH 1 ACS/WFC ACCUM WFC F435W 2 none 1 none 1 N/A M31-BH 1 ACS/WFC ACCUM WFC F435W 2 none 2 none 1 N/A M31-BH 1 ACS/WFC ACCUM WFC F435W 3 none 1 none 2 N/A M31-BH 1 ACS/WFC ACCUM WFC F435W 3 none 2 none 2 N/A M31-BH 1 ACS/WFC ACCUM WFC F435W 4 none 1 none 2 N/A M31-BH 1 ACS/WFC ACCUM WFC F435W 4 none 2 none 2 N/A 11338( 6) - 03-Nov-2009 17:05:51 - [ 7] Summary Form for Proposal 11338 Item Used in this proposal ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Apertures WFC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Configurations ACS/WFC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Opmodes ACCUM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Optional Parameters CR-SPLIT=NO, GAIN=2.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Special Requirements AFTER 15 BY 180.0 D TO 210.0 D, BETWEEN 16-NOV-2009:00:00:00 AND 22-NOV-2009:00:00:00, GYRO MODE 3GOBAD, PATTERN 2 1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Spectral Elements F435W ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Target Names M31-BH ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------