14810( 3) - 21-Jul-2016 13:32:05 - [ 1] HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OBSERVING PROGRAM 14810 Version: 3 Check-in Time: 21-Jul-2016 13:32:05 STScI Edit Number: 1 Title High-Precision Proper Motions in the M87 Jet ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Type Cycle GO 24 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Investigators Contact? PI: Dr. John A. Biretta Eureka Scientific Inc. Y CoI: Dr. William B. Sparks Space Telescope Science Institute N CoI: Dr. Eileen T Meyer University of Maryland Baltimore County N ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Abstract As the nearest galaxy with an optical jet, M87 affords an unparalleled opportunity to study extragalactic jet phenomena at the highest resolution. We have previously obtained HST images of the jet with unprecedented resolution which show detailed shock structures as well as numerous unresolved condensations over the first few arcseconds of the jet. Our previous HST monitoring observations have found superluminal motion at speeds up to 6c in many of these features, and showed the formation of new emission regions and rapid variability. The STIS/NUV instrument presents a unique opportunity to measure proper motions in the M87 jet with a single highly stable, high resolution detector across a 19 yr timebase. We will use these new data, together with existing STIS/NUV data, to map the velocity field of the jet with much higher accuracy than previously possible. This will allow us to measure the bulk deceleration of the jet, transverse motions, accelerations / decelerations of individual features, and numerous fainter jet features. We will use this to test models for the structure and kinematics of relativistic jet flows, synchrotron emission regions, and AGN in general. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Observations Description ------------------------ We will obtain STIS NUV F25QTZ images of the jet using a setup which closely duplicates our previous monitor observations. Sub-exposures will be dithered to improve PSF sampling by the 0.024" pixels and minimize detector artifacts. ACCUM mode is used for greatest consistency with past monitoring observations. We do not expect any bright object issues for either the M87 nucleus or jet. Bright object discussion for STIS NUV-MAMA: We have used an identical observation (same mode and filter) taken in May 2016 (program 14256) to perform a baseline check of the MAMA-NUV count rate. The brightest compact feature had F(lambda)=2.0e-16 erg cm-2 s-1 A-1. With these inputs the ETC gives the brightest pixel as 8 counts/sec (STIS.im.828069). This is well below the limit of 100 counts/sec. The M87 jet has been previously seen to produce a bright flare with an e-folding (factor 3) rise time ~1 year. Based on this timescale, and the above flux observation from May 2016, any new flare is predicted to be have <24 14810( 3) - 21-Jul-2016 13:32:05 - [ 2] counts/sec, or a factor ~4 below the brightness limit, in mid-2017. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 14810( 3) - 21-Jul-2016 13:32:05 - [ 3] TARGET LIST Fixed Targets ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tar| Target | Target | Target |Coord | Radial | Flux data No | Name | Description | Position |Eqnx | Vel. | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 M87-NUCLEUS GALAXY, ELLIPTICAL, RA=12H30M49.3590S +/- 0.1", J2000 V = 16.7 JET, RADIO GALAXY DEC=+12D23'29.00" +/- 0.1" Reference Frame: ICRS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 14810( 3) - 21-Jul-2016 13:32:05 - [ 4] Visit: 01 (STIS NUV-MAMA) Visit Requirements: SCHED 100%; ORIENT 105.D TO 105. D; BETWEEN 01-APR-2017 AND 01-OCT-2017 On Hold Comments: Additional Comments: STIS NUV-MAMA ORIENT chosen to match prior epochs of monitoring observations. POS TARG used to place middle of jet near center of detector. Dithering used to improve PSF sampling and remove any detector artifacts. ACCUM used for greatest consistency with prior observations. A BETWEEN timing constraint is used to place this observation roughly one year after our previous epoch. 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 M87-NUCLEUS STIS/NUV ACCUM F25QTZ MIRROR 1 585 S (585 POS TARG -7, 7 -MAMA S) Comments: See OBSERVING DESCRIPTION for discussion of Bright Object issues. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 M87-NUCLEUS STIS/NUV ACCUM F25QTZ MIRROR 1 585 S (585 POS TARG -6.496, 6.748 -MAMA S) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3 M87-NUCLEUS STIS/NUV ACCUM F25QTZ MIRROR 1 585 S (585 POS TARG -6.244, 6.244 -MAMA S) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4 M87-NUCLEUS STIS/NUV ACCUM F25QTZ MIRROR 1 585 S (585 POS TARG -6.748, 6.496 -MAMA 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 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ M87-NUCLEUS 1 STIS/NUV ACCUM F25QTZ MIRROR none none none none 1 N/A -MAMA M87-NUCLEUS 2 STIS/NUV ACCUM F25QTZ MIRROR none none none none 1 N/A -MAMA M87-NUCLEUS 3 STIS/NUV ACCUM F25QTZ MIRROR none none none none 1 N/A -MAMA M87-NUCLEUS 4 STIS/NUV ACCUM F25QTZ MIRROR none none none none 1 N/A -MAMA 14810( 3) - 21-Jul-2016 13:32:05 - [ 5] Summary Form for Proposal 14810 Item Used in this proposal ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Apertures F25QTZ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Configurations STIS/NUV-MAMA ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Opmodes ACCUM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Optional Parameters ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Special Requirements BETWEEN 01-APR-2017 AND 01-OCT-2017, ORIENT 105.D TO 105. D, POS TARG -6.244, 6.244, POS TARG -6.496, 6.748, POS TARG -6.748, 6.496, POS TARG -7, 7, SCHED 100% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Spectral Elements MIRROR ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Target Names M87-NUCLEUS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------