7845( 2) - 10/31/97 16:03 - [ 1] PROPOSAL FOR HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OBSERVATIONS ST ScI Use Only ID: 7845 Version: 2 Check-in Date: 31-Oct-1997 16:02:26 1.Proposal Title: THE SUPERLUMINAL SOURCE GRS 1915+105: A RUNAWAY BLACK HOLE ? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2. Proposal For 3. Cycle GO 7 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4. Investigators Contact? PI: FELIX MIRABEL CENTRE D'ETUDES DE SACLAY CoI: Daniel Golombek Space Telescope Science Institute Y CoI: Luis Rodriguez Instituto de Astronomia UNAM N ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5. Abstract We will measure the proper motion of the center of mass of GRS~1915+105 to improve our understanding of the genesis and fate of black holes. GRS~1915+105 is a well- established black hole binary system with superluminal ejections. Our VLA and VLBA observations suggest proper motions of 8 mas/year of the radio core (center of ejections), which at the distance of GRS 1915+105 corresponds to $\sim$ 500 km s$^{- 1}$. However, it has been difficult to estimate possible systematic errors in the absolute astrometry with the radio interferometers. The infrared counterpart in quiescence has J$\sim$18mag, H$\sim$16mag, and K$\sim$14mag (Mirabel et al. 1994), and we propose to confirm the proper motion of the binary using NICMOS images taken one year apart. If the proper motion of GRS 1915+105 is confirmed beyond doubt, the proposed observations will support the idea that a significant fraction of the collapsed massive stars are runaway black holes, and that natal recoils give rise to an intergalactic black-hole population analogous to the intergalactic population of neutron stars. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7845( 2) - 10/31/97 16:03 - [ 2] Observations Description ------------------------ Using the NICMOS exposure time calculator we estimate that we can obtain a SNR of around 100 in a 100sec exposure with the F110W filter. We plan to use similar exposure times with the F106W. All these observations fit in one orbit. Real Time Justification ----------------------- NONE Calibration Justification ------------------------- NONE Additional Comments ------------------- NONE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Data Distribution Media: ELECTRONIC Blocking Factor: 10 Ship To: PI_Address Ship Via: Email: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7845( 2) - 10/31/97 16:03 - [ 3] TARGET LIST a) Fixed Targets ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tar| Target | Target | Target |Coord | Radial | Flux data No | Name | Description | Position |Eqnx | Vel. | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 GRS1915+105 STAR,GAMMA RAY BURSTER RA=19H 15M 11.56S +/- J2000 J = 18.0+/-0.5 0.1",DEC=10D 56' 43.6" +/- H = 16.2+/-0.5 0.1",PLATE-ID=02V0 7845( 2) - 10/31/97 16:03 - [ 4] Visit: 01 Visit Priority: Visit Requirements: BETWEEN 10-NOV-1998:00:00:00.0 AND 13-DEC-1998:00:00:00.0 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10 GRS1915+105 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F110W PATTERN=SPIRAL-DITH,NUM-POS=7, 1 DEF CUM OFFSET=SAM,DITH-SIZE=0.08, PATTERN-ORIENT=0.0, SAMP-SEQ=STEP32,NSAMP=11 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 20 GRS1915+105 NIC1 MULTIAC NIC1 F160W PATTERN=SPIRAL-DITH,NUM-POS=4, 1 DEF CUM OFFSET=SAM,DITH-SIZE=0.08, PATTERN-ORIENT=0.0, SAMP-SEQ=STEP128,NSAMP=11 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7845( 2) - 10/31/97 16:03 - [ 5] Summary Form for Proposal 7845 Item Used in this proposal ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Configurations NIC1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Opmodes MULTIACCUM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Optional Parameters PATTERN=SPIRAL-DITH NUM-POS=7 OFFSET=SAM DITH-SIZE=0.08 PATTERN-ORIENT=0.0 SAMP-SEQ=STEP32 NSAMP=11 SAMP-SEQ=STEP128 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Proposal Category GO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Special Requirements BETWEEN 10-NOV-1998 00 00 00.0 AND 13-DEC-1998 00 00 00.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Spectral Elements F110W F160W ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Target Names GRS1915+105 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------