13311( 3) - 14-Aug-2014 10:48:31 - [ 1] HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OBSERVING PROGRAM 13311 Version: 3 Check-in Time: 14-Aug-2014 10:48:31 STScI Edit Number: 0 Title Precise Orbit Determination for a New Horizons KBO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Type Cycle GO 21 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Investigators Contact? PI: Dr. Susan D. Benecchi Planetary Science Institute Y CoI: Dr. Marc W. Buie Southwest Research Institute N CoI: Dr. John R. Spencer Southwest Research Institute N CoI: Dr. S. Alan Stern Southwest Research Institute N CoI: Dr. Keith S. Noll NASA Goddard Space Flight Center N CoI: Dr. Harold A. Weaver The Johns Hopkins University Applied N Physics Laboratory ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Abstract The New Horizons (NH) spacecraft is on its way to study the Pluto system during a flyby after which the spacecraft will be retargeted to one or more Kuiper Belt Objects (KBOs) to learn about small KBOs and the Kuiper Belt population. We are actively carrying out dedicated ground-based observations to identify a target for NH to flyby and continue to improve our analysis algorithms. To date, we have 28 discoveries including five objects that are long-range reconnaissance candidates, two that are pre-Pluto encounter observation candidates and two that current orbit predictions require about a factor of 2 more propellant than available for the targeting maneuver. Our searches are continuing in to 2013. Unfortunately, NH's trajectory line of site is within the galactic center (Sagittarius) making stellar confusion a major problem in obtaining precise astrometry and high precision orbits for these objects from the ground. HST's sensitivity, resolution and PSF stability are crucial components for determining precise orbits for these objects. We request 2 TOO orbits to be triggered in the event that a candidate object is found within the targetable region. These observations will provide the required high precision astrometry, will evaluate if the NH candidate is binary (~30%) and will make a preliminary color determination to assist in fly-by planning. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Observations Description ------------------------ We obtain 5-370 second exposures using a linear dither pattern on the NH KBO candidate. Both TOO orbits are planned to take the same set of exposures. This project imposes no orientation constraints and uses ordinary blind target acquisition. We tracking the object under FGS control, target motion rates are very slow, at most a few arcsec per hour. We are now requesting ToO activation to observe newly discovered KBO A31006AP ASAP, consistent with a non-disruptive ToO. Once tentative scheduling slots are identified we will check the fields for spoler stars. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 13311( 3) - 14-Aug-2014 10:48:31 - [ 2] TARGET LIST Solar System Targets ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ TARGET NUMBER: 1 TARGET NAME: A31006AP ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ TARGET DESCRIPTION: ASTEROID NH-KBO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ TARGET POSITION LEVEL 1 TARGET POSITION LEVEL 2 TYPE=ASTEROID, A=42.973765058193, E=0.11396475141900, I=3.0501788148877, O=147.05090589013, W=15.982597374200, M=105.16977073587, EQUINOX=J2000, EPOCH=24-JUL-2014:00:00:00, EpochTimeScale=UTC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ TARGET POSITION LEVEL 3 WINDOWS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ DATA COMMENTS V = 27.0 +/- 0.5 Ephemeris Center: EARTH ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 13311( 3) - 14-Aug-2014 10:48:31 - [ 3] Patterns ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pattern_Number: 1 Primary_Pattern Secondary_Pattern Pattern_Type LINE Pattern_Purpose OTHER Number_Of_Points 5 Point_Spacing 0.75 Line_Spacing Coordinate_Frame CELESTIAL Pattern_Orient 0 Angle_Between_Sides Center_Pattern YES ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 13311( 3) - 14-Aug-2014 10:48:31 - [ 4] Visit: 11 Visit Requirements: SCHED 100% 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| (Total) | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 A31006AP WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS2 F350LP 1 370.0 S PATTERN 1 1 S (1850 S) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A31006AP 1 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS2 F350LP 1 none none none 1 N/A S A31006AP 1 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS2 F350LP 2 none none none 1 N/A S A31006AP 1 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS2 F350LP 3 none none none 1 N/A S A31006AP 1 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS2 F350LP 4 none none none 1 N/A S A31006AP 1 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS2 F350LP 5 none none none 1 N/A S 13311( 3) - 14-Aug-2014 10:48:31 - [ 5] Visit: 12 Visit Requirements: SCHED 100%; AFTER 11 BY 0.9 Orbits TO 1.3 Orbits; SEQ 11, 12 WITHIN 1 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| (Total) | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 A31006AP WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS2 F350LP 1 370.0 S PATTERN 1 1 S (1850 S) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A31006AP 1 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS2 F350LP 1 none none none 1 N/A S A31006AP 1 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS2 F350LP 2 none none none 1 N/A S A31006AP 1 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS2 F350LP 3 none none none 1 N/A S A31006AP 1 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS2 F350LP 4 none none none 1 N/A S A31006AP 1 WFC3/UVI ACCUM UVIS2 F350LP 5 none none none 1 N/A S 13311( 3) - 14-Aug-2014 10:48:31 - [ 6] Summary Form for Proposal 13311 Item Used in this proposal ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Apertures UVIS2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Configurations WFC3/UVIS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Opmodes ACCUM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Optional Parameters ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Special Requirements AFTER 11 BY 0.9 Orbits TO 1.3 Orbits, PATTERN 1 1, SCHED 100%, SEQ 11, 12 WITHIN 1 D ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Spectral Elements F350LP ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Target Names A31006AP ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------