15358( 3) - 13-Jul-2018 18:56:24 - [ 1] HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OBSERVING PROGRAM 15358 Version: 3 Check-in Time: 13-Jul-2018 18:56:24 STScI Edit Number: 1 Title High-Precision Proper Motions in the M87 Jet ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Type Cycle GO 25 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Investigators Contact? PI: Dr. John A. Biretta Eureka Scientific Inc. Y CoI: Dr. William B. Sparks SETI 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 made an identical observation (same mode and filter, program 14810) in May 2017, and used these images to check the MAMA-NUV count rate. The brightest compact feature (highest counts/pixel) was the nucleus which had F(lambda)=5.0e-16 erg cm-2 s-1 A-1. With these inputs the ETC gives the brightest pixel as 19 counts/sec (STIS.im.1014493). This is well below the limit of 100 counts/sec. The actual observed maximum counts in the image was only 6 counts/sec, due to pixelation and de-focus effects. The M87 jet has been previously seen to produce a bright flare with an 15358( 3) - 13-Jul-2018 18:56:24 - [ 2] e-folding (factor 3) rise time ~1 year. In May 2017 the same flaring component had only F(lambda)=7.4e-17 erg cm-2 s-1 A-1. Based on this flare timescale and observed flux, the maximum count rate in May 2018 would be <8 counts/sec. Finally we note the flaring component in fact faded between 2016 and 2017, at a rate of 20% loss per year, which suggests it will be far below the limit in 2018. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 15358( 3) - 13-Jul-2018 18:56:24 - [ 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 15358( 3) - 13-Jul-2018 18:56:24 - [ 4] Visit: 01 (STIS NUV-MAMA) Visit Requirements: SCHED 100%; ORIENT 105.D TO 105. D; BETWEEN 01-APR-2018 AND 01-OCT-2018 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 15358( 3) - 13-Jul-2018 18:56:24 - [ 5] Visit: 02 (STIS NUV-MAMA) Visit Requirements: SCHED 100%; ORIENT 105.D TO 105. D; BETWEEN 01-APR-2018 AND 01-OCT-2018 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 15358( 3) - 13-Jul-2018 18:56:24 - [ 6] Summary Form for Proposal 15358 Item Used in this proposal ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Apertures F25QTZ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Configurations STIS/NUV-MAMA ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Opmodes ACCUM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Optional Parameters ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Special Requirements BETWEEN 01-APR-2018 AND 01-OCT-2018, 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------