12484( 7) - 21-Jun-2012 13:27:34 - [ 1] HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OBSERVING PROGRAM 12484 Version: 7 Check-in Time: 21-Jun-2012 13:27:34 STScI Edit Number: 1 Title STIS UV spectroscopy of a bright nova during its super soft X-ray phase ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Type Cycle GO 19 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Investigators Contact? PI: Dr. Gregory James Schwarz American Astronomical Society Y CoI: Dr. Kim Page University of Leicester N CoI: Dr. Julian P. Osborne University of Leicester N CoI: Dr. Jan-Uwe Ness European Space Agency - ESTEC N CoI: Prof. Michael F. Bode Liverpool John Moores University N CoI: Dr. Sumner G. Starrfield Arizona State University N CoI: Dr. Charles E. Woodward University of Minnesota - Twin Cities N CoI: Dr. Frederick M. Walter State University of New York at Stony N Brook ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Abstract We propose ToO observations of one bright nova in outburst using the STIS echelle to obtain ultraviolet spectroscopy while the source is X-ray luminous. UV spectroscopy enables determination of ejecta physical properties, including the elemental abundances, ejecta mass, and structure. This information provides insight into the role of novae in the isotopic enrichment of the Interstellar Medium, pre-solar grain abundances, details on the mass and composition of the underlying white dwarf, and constraints on hydrodynamic modeling of the outburst. UV data are key to these analyses, providing the only opportunity to observe strong carbon lines in these objects as well as direct measures of the interstellar reddening. With slit spectroscopy from ~1100-3100 Angstroms, HST is currently the only facility that can provide these data. The data will complement our existing ground based optical, infrared and radio and Swift X-ray nova ToO programs providing continous spectral information from X-ray to the radio. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Observations Description ------------------------ We will observe a bright nova during its super soft source (SSS) X-ray phase as determined by Swift XRT monitoring. The program calls for three separate one orbit visits. The initial ToO trigger occurs when the source enters the SSS phase, e.g., the majority of photons have E ~< 1 keV and a Swift X-ray count rate ~> 0.1 ct/s. The second visit is initiated after the source has reached X-ray maximum and stabilized at an approximately constant level. The last visit is scheduled after the decline in the X-ray light curve indicating that nuclear burning has ended. This will give us UV spectra of the ejecta exposed to different photoionization levels. In order to sample the full spectral range we will use the E140M and E230M gratings. The echelle is necessary to provide high resolution data while also minimizing the flux on the MAMA detectors for this bright source. For each orbit we use the CCD and F28X50LP aperture to acquire the source. A 1 second 12484( 7) - 21-Jun-2012 13:27:34 - [ 2] exposure is sufficient to obtain enough S/N to acquire but if the source is too bright we will switch to the F20X50OII aperture. We will use the E140M and the E230M (lambda1978) to obtain the critical 1150-1700 Angstrom and 1600-2300 Angstrom spectra. In the first and second visits this will be supplmented with an additional E230M (lambda 2707) exposure to get the 2300-3100 Angstrom data. There will be no E230M (lambda 2707) during the third visit. The exposure times for each grating and position should be approximately equal in each visit, e.g. 360-590 seconds in visits 1 and 2 and longer 780-1050 second exposures in visit 3. The 0.2'' X 0.2'' slit will be used unless the nova is too bright in which case we will use an appropriate neutral density filter. This is unlikely as such novae are relatively rare. We will use visual photometry and Swift UVOT data to estimate the UV brightness before each visit to ensure the health of the MAMA detectors. Real Time Justification ----------------------- Calibration Justification ------------------------- Additional Comments ------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 12484( 7) - 21-Jun-2012 13:27:34 - [ 3] TARGET LIST Fixed Targets ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tar| Target | Target | Target |Coord | Radial | Flux data No | Name | Description | Position |Eqnx | Vel. | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 NOVALMC2012 STAR, CLASSICAL NOVA, RA=04H54M56.8200S +/- 0.1", J2000 V = 15 +/- 1 RECURRENT NOVA DEC=-70D26'56.60" +/- 0.1" Reference Frame: ICRS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 12484( 7) - 21-Jun-2012 13:27:34 - [ 4] Visit: 01 Visit Requirements: BETWEEN 01-MAY-2012:00:00:00 AND 31-MAY-2012:00:00:00 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 NOVALMC2012 STIS/CCD ACQ 50CCD MIRROR 1 1 S ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 NOVALMC2012 STIS/FUV ACCUM 0.2X0.2 E140M 1425 1 300 S -MAMA see below ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3 NOVALMC2012 STIS/NUV ACCUM 0.2X0.2 E230M 1978 1 300 S -MAMA see below ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4 NOVALMC2012 STIS/NUV ACCUM 0.2X0.2 E230M 2707 1 300 S -MAMA 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 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ NOVALMC2012 1 STIS/CCD ACQ 50CCD MIRROR none none none none 1 N/A NOVALMC2012 2 STIS/FUV ACCUM 0.2X0.2 E140M 1425 none none none none 1 724.0 S -MAMA NOVALMC2012 3 STIS/NUV ACCUM 0.2X0.2 E230M 1978 none none none none 1 724.0 S -MAMA NOVALMC2012 4 STIS/NUV ACCUM 0.2X0.2 E230M 2707 none none none none 1 724.0 S -MAMA 12484( 7) - 21-Jun-2012 13:27:34 - [ 5] Visit: 02 Visit Requirements: AFTER 01 BY 10 D TO 20 D; BETWEEN 20-MAY-2012:00:00:00 AND 03-JUN-2012:00:00:00 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 NOVALMC2012 STIS/CCD ACQ 50CCD MIRROR 1 1 S ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 NOVALMC2012 STIS/FUV ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 300 S -MAMA see below ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3 NOVALMC2012 STIS/NUV ACCUM 52X0.2 G230L 2376 1 300 S -MAMA see below ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4 NOVALMC2012 STIS/CCD ACCUM 52X0.2E1 G430L 4300 1 600 S 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 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ NOVALMC2012 1 STIS/CCD ACQ 50CCD MIRROR none none none none 1 N/A NOVALMC2012 2 STIS/FUV ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 none none none none 1 690.0 S -MAMA NOVALMC2012 3 STIS/NUV ACCUM 52X0.2 G230L 2376 none none none none 1 690.0 S -MAMA NOVALMC2012 4 STIS/CCD ACCUM 52X0.2E1 G430L 4300 none none none 1 1 390.0 S NOVALMC2012 4 STIS/CCD ACCUM 52X0.2E1 G430L 4300 none none none 2 1 390.0 S 12484( 7) - 21-Jun-2012 13:27:34 - [ 6] Visit: 03 Visit Requirements: BETWEEN 01-JUL-2012:00:00:00 AND 30-JUL-2012:00:00:00 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 NOVALMC2012 STIS/CCD ACQ 50CCD MIRROR 1 2 S ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 NOVALMC2012 STIS/FUV ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 1 800 S -MAMA see below ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3 NOVALMC2012 STIS/CCD ACCUM 52X0.2E1 G750L 7751 CR-SPLIT=3 1 600 S see below ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4 CCDFLAT STIS/CCD ACCUM 52X0.1 G750L 7751 2 DEF ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ NOVALMC2012 1 STIS/CCD ACQ 50CCD MIRROR none none none none 1 N/A NOVALMC2012 2 STIS/FUV ACCUM 52X0.2 G140L 1425 none none none none 1 611.0 S -MAMA NOVALMC2012 3 STIS/CCD ACCUM 52X0.2E1 G750L 7751 none none none 1 1 256.0 S NOVALMC2012 3 STIS/CCD ACCUM 52X0.2E1 G750L 7751 none none none 2 1 256.0 S NOVALMC2012 3 STIS/CCD ACCUM 52X0.2E1 G750L 7751 none none none 3 1 256.0 S CCDFLAT 4 STIS/CCD ACCUM 52X0.1 G750L 7751 none none 1 none 1 N/A CCDFLAT 4 STIS/CCD ACCUM 52X0.1 G750L 7751 none none 2 none 1 N/A 12484( 7) - 21-Jun-2012 13:27:34 - [ 7] Visit: 99 Visit Requirements: AFTER 01; BETWEEN 01-JUL-2012:00:00:00 AND 31-JUL-2012:00:00:00 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 NOVALMC2012 STIS/CCD ACQ 50CCD MIRROR 1 20 S ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 NOVALMC2012 STIS/FUV ACCUM 0.2X0.2 G140L 1425 1 300 S -MAMA 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 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ NOVALMC2012 1 STIS/CCD ACQ 50CCD MIRROR none none none none 1 N/A NOVALMC2012 2 STIS/FUV ACCUM 0.2X0.2 G140L 1425 none none none none 1 2746.0 S -MAMA 12484( 7) - 21-Jun-2012 13:27:34 - [ 8] Summary Form for Proposal 12484 Item Used in this proposal ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Apertures 0.2X0.2, 50CCD, 52X0.1, 52X0.2, 52X0.2E1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Configurations STIS/CCD, STIS/FUV-MAMA, STIS/NUV-MAMA ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Opmodes ACCUM, ACQ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Optional Parameters CR-SPLIT=3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Special Requirements AFTER 01, AFTER 01 BY 10 D TO 20 D, BETWEEN 01-JUL-2012:00:00:00 AND 30-JUL-2012:00:00:00, BETWEEN 01-JUL-2012:00:00:00 AND 31-JUL-2012:00:00:00, BETWEEN 01-MAY-2012:00:00:00 AND 31-MAY-2012:00:00:00, BETWEEN 20-MAY-2012:00:00:00 AND 03-JUN-2012:00:00:00 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Spectral Elements E140M, E230M, G140L, G230L, G430L, G750L, MIRROR ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Target Names CCDFLAT, NOVALMC2012 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------