8086( 9) - 10/26/98 11:03 - [ 1] PROPOSAL FOR HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OBSERVATIONS ST ScI Use Only ID: 8086 Version: 9 Check-in Date: 26-Oct-1998 11:02:25 1.Proposal Title: Leonid STIS proposal ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2. Proposal For 3. Cycle GO/DD 7 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4. Investigators Contact? PI: Stefi Baum Space Telescope Science Institute ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5. Abstract We propose to obtain STIS G750L slitless spectroscopy and a 50CCD image of the field around the quasar PKS 2200-238 during the Leonid meteor shower to identify high redshift galaxies associated with Lyman-alpha and metal absorption systems in the quasar spectrum. Our key aim is to achieve the direct optical identification of high redshift galaxies which produce absorption against the background QSO. Whilst there are many direct detections of Lyman alpha absorbing galaxies at low-intermediate redshifts (z<0.7; see Lanzetta et al 1995, ApJ, 442, 538), there are currently no direct identifications of galaxies giving rise to Lyman-a forest lines at high redshifts. It is important to do this in order to understand the nature of Lyman forest absorbers over all redshifts, particularly in light of recent results claiming the existence of a break in the redshift distribution (dn/dz) for Lyman-a forest absorbers around z=1.7 (Weymann et al 1998, ApJ, 506). Such a feature in the redshift distribution might indicate the onset of a new population of objects. The observations proposed here will address this issue. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8086( 9) - 10/26/98 11:03 - [ 2] Observations Description ------------------------ By centering the STIS field on the QSO we will cover a radius of ~100 kpc around its line of sight (for z=1 to 2.12, H0=100, q0=1/2). We estimate the number of Lyman alpha forest absorbers we should find above a rest-equivalent width detection threshold of 0.2 Angstroms to be ~25 (for the redshift range 1.6 < z < 2.12). Using the G750L grating in slitless mode we will cover the spectral range 5240-10270 A. With this coverage we will be able to identify the following emission lines in the listed ranges: Mg II (2800): From z=0.9 to z=2.7, O II (3727): From z=0.4 to z=1.8 H beta (4861): >From z=0.1 to z=1.1 O III (5007): From z=0.1 to z=1.0 H a (6562): From z=0.0 to z=0.6 We will thus be able to obtain spectroscopic redshifts for any emission-line galaxy over the attained magnitude limits. In particular, for the high-z end (z>1.5) we will profit from the lack of sky lines in the near IR area, where the O II (3727) line will be the most important feature. This means that if the objects responsible for the z=2.05 CIV and z=1.72 MgII systems have emission lines we shall be able to detect them. Real Time Justification ----------------------- Calibration Justification ------------------------- Additional Comments ------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Data Distribution Paper Products: Media: ELECTRONIC Blocking Factor: 10 Ship To: PI_Address Ship Via: Email: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8086( 9) - 10/26/98 11:03 - [ 3] TARGET LIST a) Fixed Targets ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tar| Target | Target | Target |Coord | Radial | Flux data No | Name | Description | Position |Eqnx | Vel. | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 PKS2200-238 STAR RA=22H 2M 56.024S +/- 0S, DEC=- J2000 V = 18.5 23D 35' 10.69" +/- 0", PLATE-ID= B-V = 0.4 F(4000)=2.0e-16 F(8000)=1.2e-16 8086( 9) - 10/26/98 11:03 - [ 4] Visit: 01 Visit Priority: Visit Requirements: ORIENT 69.4D TO 69.4D 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 PKS2200-238 STIS/C ACCUM 50CCD MIRROR CR-SPLIT=2 1 17 M MAX DUR 100% CD ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 40 PKS2200-238 STIS/C ACCUM 50CCD G750L 7751 CR-SPLIT=NO,BINAXIS1=1,BINAXIS2=2 1 10 M MAX DUR 100% CD ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8086( 9) - 10/26/98 11:03 - [ 5] Visit: 02 Visit Priority: Visit Requirements: ORIENT 69.4D TO 69.4D 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 PKS2200-238 STIS/C ACCUM 50CCD G750L 7751 CR-SPLIT=2,BINAXIS1=1,BINAXIS2=2 1 22 M MAX DUR 100% CD ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8086( 9) - 10/26/98 11:03 - [ 6] Visit: 03 Visit Priority: Visit Requirements: ORIENT 69.4D TO 69.4D 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 PKS2200-238 STIS/C ACCUM 50CCD G750L 7751 CR-SPLIT=2,BINAXIS1=1,BINAXIS2=2 1 21 M POS TARG +0.25,+0.25 MAX CD DUR 100% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8086( 9) - 10/26/98 11:03 - [ 7] Visit: 04 Visit Priority: Visit Requirements: ORIENT 69.4D TO 69.4D 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 PKS2200-238 STIS/C ACCUM 50CCD G750L 7751 CR-SPLIT=2,BINAXIS1=1,BINAXIS2=2 1 19 M POS TARG +0.5,+0.5 MAX CD DUR 100% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8086( 9) - 10/26/98 11:03 - [ 8] Visit: 05 Visit Priority: Visit Requirements: ORIENT 69.4D TO 69.4D 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 PKS2200-238 STIS/C ACCUM 50CCD G750L 7751 CR-SPLIT=2,BINAXIS1=1,BINAXIS2=2 1 42 M POS TARG +0.75,+0.75 MAX CD DUR 100% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8086( 9) - 10/26/98 11:03 - [ 9] Visit: 06 Visit Priority: Visit Requirements: ORIENT 69.4D TO 69.4D 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 PKS2200-238 STIS/C ACCUM 50CCD G750L 7751 CR-SPLIT=2,BINAXIS1=1,BINAXIS2=2 1 19 M POS TARG +1.0,+1.0 MAX CD DUR 100% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 20 PKS2200-238 STIS/C ACCUM 50CCD MIRROR CR-SPLIT=2 1 19 M POS TARG +1.0,+1.0 MAX CD DUR 100% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8086( 9) - 10/26/98 11:03 - [ 10] Visit: 07 Visit Priority: Visit Requirements: ORIENT 69.4D TO 69.4D 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 PKS2200-238 STIS/C ACCUM 50CCD G750L 7751 CR-SPLIT=2,BINAXIS1=1,BINAXIS2=2 1 16 M POS TARG +0.5,+0.5 MAX CD DUR 100% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8086( 9) - 10/26/98 11:03 - [ 11] Summary Form for Proposal 8086 Item Used in this proposal ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Apertures 50CCD ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Configurations STIS/CCD ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Opmodes ACCUM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Optional Parameters CR-SPLIT=2 BINAXIS2=2 BINAXIS1=1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Proposal Category GO/DD ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Special Requirements ORIENT 69.4D TO 69.4D MAX DUR 100% POS TARG +0.25,+0.25 MAX DUR 100% POS TARG +0.5,+0.5 MAX DUR 100% POS TARG +0.75,+0.75 MAX DUR 100% POS TARG +1.0,+1.0 MAX DUR 100% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Spectral Elements MIRROR G750L ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Target Names PKS2200-238 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wavelengths 7751 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------