6670( 5) - 04/07/98 12:01 - [ 1] PROPOSAL FOR HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OBSERVATIONS ST ScI Use Only ID: 6670 Version: 5 Check-in Date: 07-Apr-1998 12:00:41 1.Proposal Title: High-resolution imagery of jets from superluminal X-ray transients ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2. Proposal For 3. Cycle GO 6 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4. Investigators Contact? PI: MARCO TAVANI COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY CoI: Andrew Fruchter Space Telescope Science Institute N CoI: Robert Hjellming NRAO N CoI: Alan Harmon NASA/Marshall Flight Space Center N CoI: S. Nan Zhang USRA N CoI: Carole Haswell Columbia University N CoI: Mario Livio Space Telescope Science Institute N CoI: Roger Foster NRL N CoI: Ron Downes Space Telescope Science Institute N CoI: Larry Petro Space Telescope Science Institute N ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5. Abstract Superluminal transients sources (STSs) are newly discovered galactic sources showing strong X-ray outbursts associated with sporadic relativistic ejection of radio emitting plasmoids in a double-jet geometry. Qualitatively, the jet geometry of emission from STSs resembles that of AGNs and SS 433, suggesting similar conditions of accretion onto their respective compact objects (most likely black holes). HST observations of STSs aimed at detecting optical emission from plasmoids would be very valuable in testing models of relativistic emission and interaction with circumstellar environments. Typically, detectable radio emission from ejected plasmoids lasts for several weeks and large plasmoids can be ejected within a timescale of a few days. A target of opportunity (TOO) HST observation of STS is therefore possible, following a timely warning of STS activity. The success of a TOO observation strongly relies on simultaneous multiwavelength observations involving X -ray, radio and optical monitoring, and our group is engaged in the current monitoring and study of STSs. We propose to carry out TOO HST observations of nearby STSs (\gro and possibly \2) or of accessible new STSs if both of the following conditions are satisfied: (1) a major hard X-ray outburst is detected (typically with a flux larger than several hundred mCrab); (2) continuum radio emission in the 0.8-20 GHz band is detected during the X-ray outburst with a clear indication of plasmoid propagation. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6670( 5) - 04/07/98 12:01 - [ 2] Observations Description ------------------------ Obtain PC images of CI Cam with the PC in a dither box of 4 at 2 roll angles. Real Time Justification ----------------------- Calibration Justification ------------------------- Additional Comments ------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Data Distribution Media: 8MM Blocking Factor: 10 Ship To: PI_Address Ship Via: UPS Email: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6670( 5) - 04/07/98 12:01 - [ 3] TARGET LIST a) Fixed Targets ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tar| Target | Target | Target |Coord | Radial | Flux data No | Name | Description | Position |Eqnx | Vel. | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 CI-CAM STAR RA=04H 19M 42.05S +/- 0.1S, J2000 V = 11.5 DEC=+55D 59' 58.6" +/- 0.1" 6670( 5) - 04/07/98 12:01 - [ 4] Visit: 01 Visit Priority: Visit Requirements: ORIENT 5D TO 15D FROM NOMINAL GROUP 1-2 WITHIN 60H On Hold Comments: Additional Comments: A grouping within 36 hours is preferred. Exposures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Exposure| Target |Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Central| Optional |Num| Time | Special Number | Name |Config| Mode |or FOV |Element |Waveln.| Parameters |Exp| | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 CI-CAM WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F631N 6306 CR-SPLIT=NO 1 2 S POS TARG +0,+0 Comments: first series of exposures, manual dither star not saturated (V=9.5) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 CI-CAM WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F631N 6306 CR-SPLIT=NO 1 10 S POS TARG +0,+0 Comments: star not saturated (V=11.5) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3 CI-CAM WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F631N 6306 1 170 S POS TARG +0,+0 Comments: star saturated ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4 CI-CAM WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F631N 6306 CR-SPLIT=NO 1 2 S POS TARG +0.5,+0.25 Comments: second series of exposures, manual dither star not saturated (V=9.5) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5 CI-CAM WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F631N 6306 CR-SPLIT=NO 1 10 S POS TARG +0.5,+0.25 Comments: star not saturated (V=11.5) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6 CI-CAM WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F631N 6306 1 170 S POS TARG +0.5,+0.25 Comments: star saturated ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7 CI-CAM WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F631N 6306 CR-SPLIT=NO 1 2 S POS TARG +0.75,+0.75 Comments: third series of exposures, manual dither star not saturated (V=9.5) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8 CI-CAM WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F631N 6306 CR-SPLIT=NO 1 10 S POS TARG +0.75,+0.75 Comments: star not saturated (V=11.5) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9 CI-CAM WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F631N 6306 1 170 S POS TARG +0.75,+0.75 Comments: star saturated ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10 CI-CAM WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F631N 6306 CR-SPLIT=NO 1 2 S POS TARG +0.25,+0.5 Comments: fourth series of exposures, manual dither star not saturated (V=9.5) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 11 CI-CAM WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F631N 6306 CR-SPLIT=NO 1 10 S POS TARG +0.25,+0.5 Comments: star not saturated (V=11.5) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 12 CI-CAM WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F631N 6306 1 170 S POS TARG +0.25,+0.5 Comments: star saturated ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6670( 5) - 04/07/98 12:01 - [ 5] Visit: 02 Visit Priority: Visit Requirements: ORIENT -5D TO -15D FROM NOMINAL On Hold Comments: Additional Comments: Exposures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Exposure| Target |Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Central| Optional |Num| Time | Special Number | Name |Config| Mode |or FOV |Element |Waveln.| Parameters |Exp| | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 CI-CAM WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F631N 6306 CR-SPLIT=NO 1 2 S POS TARG +0,+0 Comments: first series of exposures, manual dither star not saturated (V=9.5) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 CI-CAM WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F631N 6306 CR-SPLIT=NO 1 10 S POS TARG +0,+0 Comments: star not saturated (V=11.5) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3 CI-CAM WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F631N 6306 1 170 S POS TARG +0,+0 Comments: star saturated ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4 CI-CAM WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F631N 6306 CR-SPLIT=NO 1 2 S POS TARG +0.5,+0.25 Comments: second series of exposures, manual dither star not saturated (V=9.5) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5 CI-CAM WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F631N 6306 CR-SPLIT=NO 1 10 S POS TARG +0.5,+0.25 Comments: star not saturated (V=11.5) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6 CI-CAM WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F631N 6306 1 170 S POS TARG +0.5,+0.25 Comments: star saturated ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7 CI-CAM WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F631N 6306 CR-SPLIT=NO 1 2 S POS TARG +0.75,+0.75 Comments: third series of exposures, manual dither star not saturated (V=9.5) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8 CI-CAM WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F631N 6306 CR-SPLIT=NO 1 10 S POS TARG +0.75,+0.75 Comments: star not saturated (V=11.5) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9 CI-CAM WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F631N 6306 1 170 S POS TARG +0.75,+0.75 Comments: star saturated ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10 CI-CAM WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F631N 6306 CR-SPLIT=NO 1 2 S POS TARG +0.25,+0.5 Comments: fourth series of exposures, manual dither star not saturated (V=9.5) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 11 CI-CAM WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F631N 6306 CR-SPLIT=NO 1 10 S POS TARG +0.25,+0.5 Comments: star not saturated (V=11.5) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 12 CI-CAM WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F631N 6306 1 170 S POS TARG +0.25,+0.5 Comments: star saturated ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6670( 5) - 04/07/98 12:01 - [ 6] Summary Form for Proposal 6670 Item Used in this proposal ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Configurations WFPC2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Opmodes IMAGE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Optional Parameters CR-SPLIT=NO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Proposal Category GO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Special Requirements ORIENT 5D TO 15D FROM NOMINAL GROUP 1-2 WITHIN 60H POS TARG +0,+0 POS TARG +0.5,+0.25 POS TARG +0.75,+0.75 POS TARG +0.25,+0.5 ORIENT -5D TO -15D FROM NOMINAL ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Spectral Elements F631N ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Target Names CI-CAM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------