6094( 12) - 11/05/96 15:19 - [ 0] PROPOSAL FOR HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OBSERVATIONS ST ScI Use Only ID: 6094 Version: 12 Check-in Date: 05-Nov-1996 15:01:55 1.Proposal Title: Kinematics of Nuclear Gas Disks in Nearby Radio Galaxies ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2. Scientific Category 3. Proposal For 4. Cycle AGN GO 5 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5. Investigators Contact? PI: GARY BOWER NATIONAL OPTICAL ASTRONOMY OBSERVATORIES CoI: Andrew Wilson Space Telescope Science Institute N CoI: Douglas Richstone University of Michigan N CoI: Timothy Heckman Johns Hopkins University N ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6. Abstract Detection of supermassive black holes (BHs) in active galactic nuclei (AGNs) is one of the grand challenges that HST was designed to meet. NGC 4374 = M84 = 3C272.1, as one of the three nearest radio galaxies, is an ideal object for a BH search. Ground- based imaging and spectroscopy have revealed a nuclear disk of ionized gas whose rotation axis is well- aligned with the radio jet axis. The velocity gradient across the central part of the disk is unresolved from the ground (> 100 km s^-1 arcsec^- 1), suggesting the presence of > 2 * 10^8 M_odot within a radius of 75 pc. Combining ground-based data on the stellar dynamics with archival HST images also suggests a large mass-to-light ratio in the nucleus. In this proposal we request time to determine the kinematics of the nuclear disk in NGC 4374 within the central 0 sec point 5 in order to determine if a BH is present. Measurements such as these require only a modest investment of HST time and (when combined with more painstaking observations of the stellar dynamics in a few key AGNs) may ultimately allow us to use HST to measure the BH mass function in radio-loud and radio-quiet AGNs in the local universe. Knowing the BH distribution among these populations of AGNs may constrain models for the generation of energy in these enigmatic objects. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Observations Description ------------------------ Observations proposed include PC images (continuum and HAlpha + N II) and FOS spectroscopy in the nuclear region with the 0.3 (0sec point 26) aperture, whose physical size at NGC 4374 is 19 pc. Obtaining the PC images first would be necessary to confirm the position angle of the gas disk at very small radii and to obtain more accurate photometry. These are needed to determine the proper telescope pointing and exposure times for the FOS exposures, which are only approximated below. The continuum images would also provide the luminosity profile, which is needed to input into the kinematical models. Estimates of the PC count rate can be determined from N_e = 2.5 * 10^11 t <=ft int Q(Lambda)T(Lambda) d Lambda / Lambda right * 10^-0.4(V + AB_Nu), where V+AB_Nu can be related to F_Nu (Burrows et al. 1994). Although the archival HST V image provides a reliable estimate of the count rate in F547M, we assume that the emission-line intensity given in Table 1 is distributed uniformly over the central 1'' in order to estimate the emission-line count rates for both images and spectra. Thus although we express the count rate for F658N in e^- s^-1 pix^ -1, this is actually the average expected over this region. The F439W exposures are required to obtain color information needed to (1) constrain the mass to light ratio M/L of the stellar population; (2) correct for the presence of any obscuration; and (3) provide a more accurate measurement of the nuclear stellar density through improved removal of the weak AGN point source, which should be bluer than the stars. defundertext#1 smashvphantomy #1 = 5em plus5em minus5em vbox defssrule defmsrule medskip defmmrule medskip medskip Newdimen setbox0= 0 =wd0 `?=active def?kern Real Time Justification ----------------------- Spectra of the internal wavelength calibration source would be obtained after each object spectrum, since the FOS instrument scientist informs us that the error in the grating position is significant compared to the small size of this aperture. We will measure the stellar kinematics from ground-based spectroscopy using the Michigan Dartmouth MIT (MDM) 2.4 m and long-slit spectrograph. We have already obtained long-slit spectra of M81 and NGC 4151 (in support of HST program GO- 5433) with this telescope during conditions of 1sec point 0 seeing. One of us (DOR) has guaranteed access to this telescope. Complimentary ground- based spectra are needed to provide the stellar kinematics with resolution of 1'' to compare to the gas kinematics measured by Baum et al. (1990). If the <= 50 km s^-1 stellar rotation rate measured by Davies & Birkinshaw (1988) (2''- 3'' seeing) at R >= 2'' extends closer to the nucleus, this suggests that the gas and stellar distributions may have different geometries. Calibration Justification ------------------------- Spectra of the internal wavelength calibration source would be obtained after each object spectrum, since the FOS instrument scientist informs us that the error in the grating position is significant compared to the small size of this aperture. Additional Comments ------------------- IMPORTANT: THE WFPC2 IMAGES IN THIS PROGRAM MUST BE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Data Distribution Media: 8MM Blocking Factor: 10 Ship To: PI_Address Ship Via: Email: , ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6094( 12) - 11/05/96 15:19 - [ 1] TARGET LIST a) Fixed Targets ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tar| Target | Target | Target |Coord | Radial | Flux data No | Name | Description | Position |Eqnx | Vel. | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 NGC4374 GALAXY,ELLIPTICAL,RADIO RA=12H 25M 3.65S +/- J2000 V = 910 SURF(V) = 16.2+/-0.2 GALAXY, 0.1S,DEC=12D 53' 14.2" +/- B-V = 0.98+/-0.1 0.5",PLATE-ID=00IY V-I = 1.7+/-0.2 SURF-LINE(6563)=2.0+/-0.2e-16 W-LINE(6563)=10.0+/-1.0 SURF-LINE(6583)=3.7+/-0.4e-16 W-LINE(6583)=10.0+/-1.0 SURF-LINE(6548)=1.2+/-0.1e-16 W-LINE(6548)=10.0+/-1.0 Comments: No flux information available for [O III] 5007. SIZE=1.0+/-0.2 E(B-V) = 0.04+/-0.04 2 NGC4374-NUC GALAXY,ELLIPTICAL,RADIO RA=12H 25M 3.73S +/- J2000 V = 910 SURF(V) = 15.6+/-0.2 GALAXY 0.1S,DEC=12D 53' 12.91" +/- V-I = 1.7+/-0.2 0.5",PLATE-ID=00IY 3 NGC4374-POS1 GALAXY,ELLIPTICAL,RADIO R=0.26",PA=59D,FROM 2 J2000 V = 910 SURF(V) = 16.2+/-0.2 GALAXY V-I = 1.7+/-0.2 4 NGC4374-POS2 GALAXY,ELLIPTICAL,RADIO R=0.26",PA=239D,FROM 2 J2000 V = 910 SURF(V) = 16.2+/-0.2 GALAXY V-I = 1.7+/-0.2 5 NGC4374-POS3 GALAXY,ELLIPTICAL,RADIO R=0.52",PA=59D,FROM 2 J2000 V = 910 SURF(V) = 16.3+/-0.2 GALAXY V-I = 1.7+/-0.2 6 NGC4374-POS4 GALAXY,ELLIPTICAL,RADIO R=0.52",PA=239D,FROM 2 J2000 V = 910 SURF(V) = 16.4+/-0.2 GALAXY V-I = 1.7+/-0.2 12 CP1-NGC4374- GALAXY,ELLIPTICAL,RADIO RA=12H 25M 3.73S +/- J2000 V = 910 SURF(V) = 15.6+/-0.2 NUC GALAXY, 0.1S,DEC=12D 53' 12.66" +/- V-I = 1.7+/-0.2 0.5",PLATE-ID=00IY 13 CP1-NGC4374- GALAXY,ELLIPTICAL,RADIO R=0.26",PA=59D,FROM 12 J2000 V = 910 SURF(V) = 16.2+/-0.2 POS1 GALAXY, V-I = 1.7+/-0.2 14 CP1-NGC4374- GALAXY,ELLIPTICAL,RADIO R=0.26",PA=239D,FROM 12 J2000 V = 910 SURF(V) = 16.2+/-0.2 POS2 GALAXY, V-I = 1.7+/-0.2 15 CP1-NGC4374- GALAXY,ELLIPTICAL,RADIO R=0.52",PA=59D,FROM 12 J2000 V = 910 SURF(V) = 16.3+/-0.2 POS3 GALAXY, V-I = 1.7+/-0.2 16 CP1-NGC4374- GALAXY,ELLIPTICAL,RADIO R=0.52",PA=239D,FROM 12 J2000 V = 910 SURF(V) = 16.4+/-0.2 POS4 GALAXY, V-I = 1.7+/-0.2 20 NGC4374- CALIBRATION,ASTROMETRIC RA=12H 24M 59.09S +/- J2000 V = 15.2+/-0.5 OFFSET , 0.05S,DEC=12D 52' 40.2" +/- 0.3",PLATE-ID=00IY 6094( 12) - 11/05/96 15:19 - [ 2] Visit: 01 Visit Requirements: PCS MODE FINE On Hold Comments: Additional Comments: Visit 1 will obtain the WFPC2 images. Exposures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Exposure| Target |Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Central| Optional |Num| Time | Special Number | Name |Config| Mode |or FOV |Element |Waveln.| Parameters |Exp| | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 NGC4374 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F547M CR-SPLIT=0.5,CR-TOLERANCE=0.0 1 1200 S Comments: Expected count rate = 1.6 electrons/s/pix ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 NGC4374 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F814W CR-SPLIT=0.5,CR-TOLERANCE=0.0 1 520 S Comments: Expected count rate = 6.0 electrons/s/pix ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3 NGC4374 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F658N CR-SPLIT=0.5,CR-TOLERANCE=0.0 1 2000 S EXPAND Comments: Expected count rate = 0.14 electrons/s/pix ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6094( 12) - 11/05/96 15:19 - [ 3] Visit: 02 Visit Requirements: PCS MODE FINE On Hold Comments: Additional Comments: Visit 2 will obtain the FOS observations. Exposures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Exposure| Target |Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Central| Optional |Num| Time | Special Number | Name |Config| Mode |or FOV |Element |Waveln.| Parameters |Exp| | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4 NGC4374-OFF FOS/RD ACQ/PEA 4.3 PRISM SCAN-STEP-Y=1.23,SEARCH-SIZE-X=1, 1 1 S ONBOARD ACQ FOR 5-8 SET K SEARCH-SIZE-Y=3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5 NGC4374-OFF FOS/RD ACQ/PEA 1.0 PRISM SCAN-STEP-Y=0.61,SCAN-STEP-X=0.61 1 1.1 S ONBOARD ACQ FOR 6-8 SET K ,SEARCH-SIZE-X=6,SEARCH-SIZE-Y=2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6 NGC4374-OFF FOS/RD ACQ/PEA 0.5 PRISM SCAN-STEP-Y=0.29,SCAN-STEP-X=0.29 1 1.2 S ONBOARD ACQ FOR 7-8 SET K ,SEARCH-SIZE-X=3,SEARCH-SIZE-Y=3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7 NGC4374-OFF FOS/RD ACQ/PEA 0.3 PRISM SCAN-STEP-Y=0.11,SCAN-STEP-X=0.11 1 8 S ONBOARD ACQ FOR 8 SET K ,SEARCH-SIZE-X=4,SEARCH-SIZE-Y=4 Comments: This is a critical peak-up requiring 10000 total counts ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8 NGC4374-NUC FOS/RD ACQ/PEA 0.3 MIRROR SCAN-STEP-X=0.11,SCAN-STEP-Y=0.11 1 84 S ONBOARD ACQ FOR 9 K ,SEARCH-SIZE-X=4,SEARCH-SIZE-Y=4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9 NGC4374-NUC FOS/RD ACQ 4.3 MIRROR 1 60 S END ORBIT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10 NGC4374-NUC FOS/RD ACCUM 0.3 G570H 1 900 S MIN DUR ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 11 WAVE FOS/RD ACCUM 0.3 G570H 1 DEF ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 12 NGC4374-POS FOS/RD ACCUM 0.3 G570H 1 3600 S 1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 13 WAVE FOS/RD ACCUM 0.3 G570H 1 DEF ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 14 NGC4374-POS FOS/RD ACCUM 0.3 G570H 1 3600 S 2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 15 WAVE FOS/RD ACCUM 0.3 G570H 1 DEF ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 16 NGC4374-POS FOS/RD ACCUM 0.3 G570H 1 2700 S 3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 17 WAVE FOS/RD ACCUM 0.3 G570H 1 DEF ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 18 NGC4374-POS FOS/RD ACCUM 0.3 G570H 1 2300 S EXPAND 4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 19 WAVE FOS/RD ACCUM 0.3 G570H 1 DEF ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6094( 12) - 11/05/96 15:19 - [ 4] Visit: 03 Visit Requirements: PCS MODE FINE On Hold Comments: Additional Comments: Visit 3 will obtain the FOS observations. This is a repeat for failed visit 2. Exposures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Exposure| Target |Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Central| Optional |Num| Time | Special Number | Name |Config| Mode |or FOV |Element |Waveln.| Parameters |Exp| | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4 NGC4374-OFF FOS/RD ACQ/PEA 4.3 PRISM SCAN-STEP-Y=1.23,SEARCH-SIZE-X=1, 1 1 S ONBOARD ACQ FOR 5-8 SET K SEARCH-SIZE-Y=3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5 NGC4374-OFF FOS/RD ACQ/PEA 1.0 PRISM SCAN-STEP-Y=0.61,SCAN-STEP-X=0.61 1 1.1 S ONBOARD ACQ FOR 6-8 SET K ,SEARCH-SIZE-X=6,SEARCH-SIZE-Y=2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6 NGC4374-OFF FOS/RD ACQ/PEA 0.5 PRISM SCAN-STEP-Y=0.29,SCAN-STEP-X=0.29 1 1.2 S ONBOARD ACQ FOR 7-8 SET K ,SEARCH-SIZE-X=3,SEARCH-SIZE-Y=3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7 NGC4374-OFF FOS/RD ACQ/PEA 0.3 PRISM SCAN-STEP-Y=0.11,SCAN-STEP-X=0.11 1 8 S ONBOARD ACQ FOR 8 SET K ,SEARCH-SIZE-X=4,SEARCH-SIZE-Y=4 Comments: This is a critical peak-up requiring 10000 total counts ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8 CP1-NGC4374 FOS/RD ACQ/PEA 0.3 MIRROR SCAN-STEP-X=0.11,SCAN-STEP-Y=0.11 1 84 S ONBOARD ACQ FOR 9 -NUC K ,SEARCH-SIZE-X=4,SEARCH-SIZE-Y=4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9 CP1-NGC4374 FOS/RD ACQ 4.3 MIRROR 1 60 S END ORBIT -NUC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10 CP1-NGC4374 FOS/RD ACCUM 0.3 G570H 1 900 S MIN DUR -NUC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 11 WAVE FOS/RD ACCUM 0.3 G570H 1 DEF ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 12 CP1-NGC4374 FOS/RD ACCUM 0.3 G570H 1 3600 S -POS1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 13 WAVE FOS/RD ACCUM 0.3 G570H 1 DEF ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 14 CP1-NGC4374 FOS/RD ACCUM 0.3 G570H 1 3600 S -POS2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 15 WAVE FOS/RD ACCUM 0.3 G570H 1 DEF ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 16 CP1-NGC4374 FOS/RD ACCUM 0.3 G570H 1 2700 S -POS3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 17 WAVE FOS/RD ACCUM 0.3 G570H 1 DEF ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 18 CP1-NGC4374 FOS/RD ACCUM 0.3 G570H 1 2300 S EXPAND -POS4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 19 WAVE FOS/RD ACCUM 0.3 G570H 1 DEF ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6094( 12) - 11/05/96 15:19 - [ 5] Summary Form for Proposal 6094 Item Used in this proposal ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Configurations WFPC2 FOS/RD ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Opmodes IMAGE ACQ/PEAK ACQ ACCUM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Optional Parameters CR-SPLIT=0.5 CR-TOLERANCE=0.0 SEARCH-SIZE-Y=3 SEARCH-SIZE-Y=2 SEARCH-SIZE-X=3 SEARCH-SIZE-Y=4 SEARCH-SIZE-X=4 SEARCH-SIZE-X=1 SEARCH-SIZE-X=6 SCAN-STEP-X=0.29 SCAN-STEP-X=0.11 SCAN-STEP-Y=0.11 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Proposal Category GO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Scientific Category AGN ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Special Requirements PCS MODE FINE EXPAND ONBOARD ACQ FOR 5-8 ONBOARD ACQ FOR 6-8 ONBOARD ACQ FOR 7-8 ONBOARD ACQ FOR 8 ONBOARD ACQ FOR 9 END ORBIT MIN DUR ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Spectral Elements F547M F814W F658N PRISM MIRROR G570H ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Target Names NGC4374 NGC4374-OFFSET NGC4374-NUC WAVE NGC4374-POS1 NGC4374-POS2 NGC4374-POS3 NGC4374-POS4 CP1-NGC4374-NUC CP1-NGC4374-POS1 CP1-NGC4374-POS2 CP1-NGC4374-POS3 CP1-NGC4374-POS4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------