Page 1 PROPOSAL FOR HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OBSERVATIONS ST ScI Use Only ID 5695 Report Date: 18-Jul-95:17:52 Version: ********** Check-in Date: ********** 1.Proposal Title: BLACK HOLES AND NUCLEAR DYNAMICS IN A COMPLETE SAMPLE OF VIRGO ELLIPTICALS - CYCLE 4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2. Scientific Category 3. Proposal For 4. Proposal Type 5. Continuation ID GALAXIES & CLUSTERS GO/CAR 4772 Sub Category NUCLEI/CORES ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6. Principal Investigator Institution Country Telephone Walter Jaffe 6870 Netherland 31-71-275883 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7. Abstract In proposal 4772 from (originally) Cycle 1, 3.356 hours remain to be observed, 26.7 percent of the total. We very much wish to complete the proposal. 4472 derives from proposal 2607 : Black Holes, Stellar Dynamics and Population in the Nuclei of a Complete Sample of Virgo Ellipticals. The proposal number was changed for technical reasons after minor changes in the program. The purpose of the program was to obtain PC images and FOS spectral data on twelve bright elliptical galaxies in the Virgo cluster in order to look for black holes and unexpected stellar population in the nuclear region. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9. Est obs time (hours) pri: 3.0 par: 0.0 10. Num targs pri: 2 par: 0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 11. Instruments requested: FOS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Page 2 I. GENERAL FORM Proposal 5695 PI: Walter Jaffe Proposal Title: BLACK HOLES AND NUCLEAR DYNAMICS IN A COMPLETE SAMPLE OF VIRGO ELLIPTICALS - CYCLE 4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1. Proposers: Proposers Institution Country ESA ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Walter Jaffe 6870 Netherlands X Holland C. Ford 2380 USA Robert W. O'Connell 3730 USA ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3. Description of proposed observations. The carry over observations from proposal 4772 involve FOS PRISM spectra of the nuclei of two of the program galaxies for which PC images were taken in Cycle 1. These were intended for investigating the nuclear stellar populations. Analysis of the PC images has in the meantime shown us that several of the program galaxies have extremely bright, thin nuclear disks, with \mu(5550A) <= 14.0 mag/arcsec**2, so that grating spectra of these disks can give estimates of the central masses in much less time than was originally allocated to this program. Mass estimates based on the rotation of cold stellar disks are much more accurate and unambiguous that estimates based on the velocity dispersions in pressure supported elliptical galaxies. In the remaining time we can obtain nuclear rotation curves for one of the program galaxies, NGC 4570 (central brightness 13.8 mag/arcsec**2). At this magnitude, a 15 minutes FOS (Red) G570 exposure through the 0.25" aperture yields 600 counts/pixel, a S/N of 25, and a rotation velocity accuracy of 12 km/s, in the MgI (5183A) line. In comparison the rotation velocity at 0.2" (15 pc at Virgo) from a 10**8 Mo black hole is 200 km/s, and the stellar mass within 0.2" is 10**7 Mo as determined from the PC image. Thus from a rotation curve derived from a series of such exposures along the disk major and minor axis, we should have no trouble detecting (or setting an upper limit on) black holes of mass 10**7 Mo. To obtain a rotation cure we wish to take a 15 minute exposure at the nucleus, two 15 min exosures displaced 0.25" and 0.5" along the major axis, and one 15 min exposure displaced 0.25" along the minor axis. In practice, the off-nuclear exposures will each be broken into two 7.5 minutes exposures on both sides of the nucleus to allow detection of rotation asymmetries, and to guard against a centering error. The exposure protocol consists of target acquisition (a three stages PeakUp), a 15 min nuclear exposure, two 7.5 minute exposures displaced 0.25" each way along the major axis, two 7.5 minute exposures displaced 0.5" each way along the major axis, and two 7.5 minute exposures displaced 0.25" each way along the minor axis ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4. Justification of need for HST observations. The dynamical signature of a nuclear black hole is given by the keplerian rise in the velocity of gas and stars at a radii where the black hole mass is comparable to mass of stars within the same radius. In Virgo ellipticals, a 1" radius contains about 10**9 solar masses. Assuming that the mass density scales as 1/r or 1/r**2, the gravitational effect of a black hole of 10**8 solar masses will dominate at radii small than of order 0.1-0.3". Thus HST resolution is necessary to determine whether such black holes exist. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5. Description of special scheduling requirements. None ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6. Description of special calibration exposures. None Page 3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8. Additional comments or special requests. None ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9. Description of previous HST work. The following is a list of HST program numbers, titles, and present authors involved in each. 2607 Black Holes, Stellar Dynamics and Populations in the Nuclei of a Complete Sample of Elliptical Galaxies: Jaffe, Ford, O'Connell. 4249 Same title, same authors 4772 Same title, same authors ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10. Resources to be supplied by investigator's institution(s). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 11. Address Information Name: Walter Jaffe Category: PI Institution: 6870 Address: Leiden Observatory P.B. 9513 City: Leiden State: Zip Code: 2300 RA Country: Netherlands Telephone: 31-71-275883 Telex (or e-mail): jaffe@strw.leidenuniv.nl ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ TARGET LIST a) Fixed Targets ID = 5695 [ 4] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tar| Target | Target | Target |Coord | Radial |Acqui|FLX| Flux data No | Name | Description | Position |Eqnx | Vel. |Prblm|REF| | | | | | | | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 NGC4570-NUC E,303 RA=12H 36M 53.34S +/- J2000 V=+1730 1 SURF(V) = 13.82 +/- 0.02 0.003S, DEC=+07D 14' 46.18" +/- 0.05" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 NGC4570-OFF1 E,303 RA-OFF = +0.00584S +/- J2000 V=+1730 2 SURF(V) = 14.61 +/- 0.05 0.002S, DEC-OFF = -0.2342" +/- 0.009", FROM 1 Comments: 0.25" OFFSET ALONG MAJ AXIS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3 NGC4570-OFF2 E,303 RA-OFF = +0.01222S +/- J2000 V=+1730 3 SURF(V) = 15.28 +/- 0.05 0.004S, DEC-OFF = -0.4652" +/- 0.017", FROM 1 Comments: 0.5" OFFSET ALONG MAJ AXIS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4 NGC4570-OFF3 E,303 RA-OFF = -0.00584S +/- J2000 V=+1730 4 SURF(V) = 14.61 +/- 0.05 0.002S, DEC-OFF = +0.2342" +/- 0.009", FROM 1 Comments: 0.25" OFFSET ALONG MAJ AXIS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5 NGC4570-OFF4 E,303 RA-OFF = -0.01222S +/- J2000 V=+1730 5 SURF(V) = 15.28 +/- 0.05 0.004S, DEC-OFF = +0.4652" +/- 0.017", FROM 1 Comments: 0.5" OFFSET ALONG MAJ AXIS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6 NGC4570-OFF5 E,303 RA-OFF = +0.01561S +/- J2000 V=+1730 6 SURF(V) = 15.16 +/- 0.05 0.002S, DEC-OFF = +0.0876" +/- 0.03", FROM 1 Comments: 0.25" OFFSET ALONG MIN AXIS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7 NGC4570-OFF6 E,303 RA-OFF = -0.01561S +/- J2000 V=+1730 7 SURF(V) = 15.16 +/- 0.05 0.002S, DEC-OFF = -0.0876" +/- 0.03", FROM 1 Comments: 0.25" OFFSET ALONG MIN AXIS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ EXPOSURE LOGSHEET ID = 5695 [ 5] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |10 | 11 | 12 |13 |14| 15 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Line | Seq | Target |Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Central| Optional |Num| Time | S/N |Flx|Pr| Special Number | Name | Name |Config| Mode |or FOV |Element |Waveln.| Parameters |Exp| |Rel. Time|Ref| | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 DEFINE # FOS/RD ACCUM 0.3 G570H 4580- 1 450S # CYCLE 4 FOS 6818 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 DEFINE NGC4570-NUC FOS/RD ACQ/ 4.3 G570H SCAN-STEP- 1 1.5S 1 CYCLE 4 FOS- PEAK Y=1.204 ACQ1 SEARCH-SIZE-X=1 SEARCH-SIZE-Y=3 Comments: MULTIPLE STAGE PEAKUP FIRST OF THREE STAGES NON CRITICAL PEAKUP ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3 DEFINE NGC4570-NUC FOS/RD ACQ/ 1.0 G570H SCAN-STEP- 1 1.5S 1 CYCLE 4 FOS- PEAK X=0.602 ACQ2 SCAN-STEP- Y=0.602 SEARCH-SIZE-X=6 SEARCH-SIZE-Y=2 Comments: MULTIPLE STAGE PEAKUP SECOND OF THREE STAGES NON CRITICAL PEAKUP ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4 DEFINE NGC4570-NUC FOS/RD ACQ/ 0.3 G570H SCAN-STEP- 1 4.5S 1 CYCLE 4 FOS- PEAK X=0.172 ACQ3 SCAN-STEP- Y=0.172 SEARCH-SIZE-X=5 SEARCH-SIZE-Y=5 Comments: MULTIPLE STAGE PEAKUP THIRD OF THREE STAGES NON CRITICAL PEAKUP ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5 DEFINE NGC4570-NUC FOS/RD ACQ/ 0.3 G570H SCAN-STEP-X=0.1 1 15S 1 CYCLE 4 FOS- PEAK SCAN-STEP-Y=0.1 ACQ4 SEARCH-SIZE-X=3 SEARCH-SIZE-Y=3 Comments: MULTIPLE STAGE PEAKUP ON OFFSET STAR FOURTH OF FOUR STAGES NON CRITICAL PEAKUP ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10 USE FOS X1 1 SEQ 10-110 NO GAP -ACQ1 ONBOARD ACQ FOR 20 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 20 USE FOS X1 1 ONBOARD ACQ FOR 30 -ACQ2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 30 USE FOS X1 1 ONBOARD ACQ FOR 40 -ACQ3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 40 USE FOS X1 1 ONBOARD ACQ FOR 50 -ACQ4 -110 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ EXPOSURE LOGSHEET ID = 5695 [ 6] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |10 | 11 | 12 |13 |14| 15 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Line | Seq | Target |Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Central| Optional |Num| Time | S/N |Flx|Pr| Special Number | Name | Name |Config| Mode |or FOV |Element |Waveln.| Parameters |Exp| |Rel. Time|Ref| | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 50 WAVE FOS/RD ACCUM 0.3 G570H 1 DEF CYCLE 4 Comments: DO NOT MOVE FILTER GRATING WHEEL BETWEEN 50.0 AND 51.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 51 USE FOS NGC4570-NUC X2 25 1 Comments: EXPOSURE ON THE NUCLEUS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 60 USE FOS NGC4570- X1 12 2 OFF1 Comments: 0.25 OFFSET ALONG MAJ AXIS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 70 USE FOS NGC4570- X1 9 3 OFF2 Comments: 0.5 OFFSET ALONG MAJ AXIS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 80 USE FOS NGC4570- X1 12 4 OFF3 Comments: 0.25 OFFSET ALONG MAJ AXIS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 90 USE FOS NGC4570- X1 9 5 OFF4 Comments: 0.5 OFFSET ALONG MAJ AXIS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 100 USE FOS NGC4570- X1 9 6 OFF5 Comments: 0.25 OFFSET ALONG MIN AXIS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 110 USE FOS NGC4570- X1 9 7 OFF6 Comments: 0.25 OFFSET ALONG MIN AXIS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary Form for Proposal 5695 [ 7] Item Used in this proposal ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Configurations FOS/RD ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Opmodes ACCUM ACQ/PEAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Optional Parameters SCAN-STEP-Y=1.204 SEARCH-SIZE-X=1 SEARCH-SIZE-Y=3 SCAN-STEP-X=0.602 SCAN-STEP-Y=0.602 SEARCH-SIZE-X=6 SEARCH-SIZE-Y=2 SCAN-STEP-X=0.172 SCAN-STEP-Y=0.172 SEARCH-SIZE-X=5 SEARCH-SIZE-Y=5 SCAN-STEP-X=0.1 SCAN-STEP-Y=0.1 SEARCH-SIZE-X=3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Proposal for GO/CAR ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ S/C Hours 3.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Scientific Category GALAXIES & CLUSTERS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Scientific Sub-category NUCLEI/CORES ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Special Requirements CYCLE 4; SEQ 10-110 NO GAP; ONBOARD ACQ FOR 20; ONBOARD ACQ FOR 30; ONBOARD ACQ FOR 40; ONBOARD ACQ FOR 50-110; ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Spectral Elements G570H ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Target Names NGC4570-NUC NGC4570-OFF1 NGC4570-OFF2 NGC4570-OFF3 NGC4570-OFF4 NGC4570-OFF5 NGC4570-OFF6 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------