8625( 7) - 02/21/01 08:32 - [ 1] PROPOSAL FOR HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OBSERVATIONS ST ScI Use Only ID: 8625 Version: 7 Check-in Date: 21-Feb-2001 08:31:31 1.Proposal Title: The Metallicity of Gas in the Local Universe: Beyond the Milky Way ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2. Proposal For 3. Cycle GO 9 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4. Investigators Contact? PI: David Bowen Princeton University CoI: Dr. Todd Tripp Princeton Observatory N CoI: Dr. Max Pettini University of Cambridge N CoI: Prof. Ed Jenkins Princeton Observatory N CoI: Dr. J. Chris Blades Space Telescope Science Institute N CoI: Dr. Annette Ferguson University of Cambridge N CoI: Ms. Wendy Lane Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, Gr"o nigen N CoI: Mr. Rob Swaters Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, Gr"o nigen N ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5. Abstract We wish to obtain STIS spectra of three QSO/AGN which lie behind nearby galaxies, to measure the metallicity of the interstellar gas at the present epoch beyond the local group. We aim to provide the first steps in establishing a low- redshift anchor to the ever burgeoning abundance measurements of gas at high redshift, to quantify the range of abundances seen in the galaxies today, and thereby examine whether our galaxy might simply be metal rich in comparison. Our data will also provide valuable information for discriminating between competing models of galaxy evolution. The three probes are the best available for obtaining UV data with sufficient quality to reliably measure column densities and Doppler parameters; Q1219+047 passes 21 \h\ through the outer H I disk of M61, where there are no sites of current star formation; Mrk 205 shines through the inter-arm region of NGC 4319, and can be used to construct the first UV absorption-line atlas of a galaxy beyond the Magellanic Clouds; and Q1543+489 directly intercepts an intergalactic H I cloud associated with two nearby galaxies. In this latter case, direct measurement of the cloud's metallicity and hydrogen column density will also enable us to constrain the ionization parameter of the UV background radiation field. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8625( 7) - 02/21/01 08:32 - [ 2] Observations Description ------------------------ begintabularllccccc & & & Visibility & & T_s & S/N , Object & Flux & Grating & (mins) & Orb's & (mins) & (pix^-1) , Q1219+047 & F_Lambda(1222)=5 times10^-15 & G140M & 52 & 8 & 286 & 10 , Mrk 205 & F_lambda(1425)=1.6*10^-14 & E140M & 96 & 15& 1206 & 6-12 , Q1543+489 & F_Lambda(1321)=7 times10^-15 & G140M & 56 & 4 & 159 & 11 , & F_Lambda(1272)=7 times10^-15 & G140M & 56 & 4 & 159 & 11 , endtabular, , The parameters for our observations are summarised in the table above. Fluxes are measured directly from previous FOS, GHRS, or IUE data. For Mrk 205, there is a wavelength interval of 80 Angstrom covering the Ly-alpha\ emission from the AGN itself. Although this does not affect our ability to detect interstellar absorption lines, because of the high resolution of the observations, it substantially increases the S/N above that quoted, where we expect to observe, e.g., several C I transitions, S I Lambda 1295, O I Lambda 1302, and Si II Lambda 1304, from NGC 4319. The table also shows the visibility window of the object, the number of orbits we request, the time on-source, T_s, and the expected S/N ratio per pixel. , In all cases we assume that the GS ACQ, the object ACQ and ACQ/PEAK, and the overhead, account for 26 mins in the first orbit of five, and that the GS re-ACQ plus overhead take 13 mins for subsequent orbits. For Mrk 205, we assume that there will be three visits of five orbits, and for Q1219+047, one visit of five orbits, plus a second visit of 3 orbits. The ETC's calculations of the resulting S/N ratios are given above, assuming that there are two pixels per resolution element. With a S/N of 10 pix^-1 for the First Order gratings, we expect to reach 3Sigma equivalent width limits of 30 mAngstrom , while for the E140M echelle, we will reach limits of 8-15 mAngstrom . , We also wish to spend one orbit observing the field of Q1543+489 with WFPC2, using a wide B-band filter to search for signs of interactions between the two main galaxies in the field, such as tidal tails. Star formation in spiral arms is best seen in the B- band, and should be the most useful filter to use to search for such features. Real Time Justification ----------------------- We request that Mrk 205 be observed in the CVZ, making the echelle-resolution observations possible. We intend to use the new echelle of the ARC 3.5 m telescope at the Apache Point Observatory to (re-)observe the three sightlines. High resolution, high S/N data of the optical Ca II and Na I absorption lines are valuable in constraining the velocity structure in absorption line complexes, as well as providing information on the calcium gas phase abundance of the absorber. We also intend to obtain very deep images of the Q1543+489 field with the ARC, to search for evidence of tidal tails or low surface brightness galaxies. Calibration Justification ------------------------- Additional Comments ------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8625( 7) - 02/21/01 08:32 - [ 3] TARGET LIST Fixed Targets ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tar| Target | Target | Target |Coord | Radial | Flux data No | Name | Description | Position |Eqnx | Vel. | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 Q1219+047 EXT-MEDIUM, ABSORPTION RA=12H 21M 37.94S +/- 1", DEC=4D J2000 Z = V = 16.8 LINE SYSTEM - 30' 25.8" +/- 1" 0.094 F-CONT(1222)=5e-15 EXTRAGALACTIC Coordinate Source: OTHER_SOURCE 2 MRK205 EXT-MEDIUM, ABSORPTION RA=12H 21M 44.04S +/- 1", J2000 Z = V = 14.8 LINE SYSTEM - DEC=75D 18' 38.2" +/- 1" 0.07085 F-CONT(1425)=1.6e-14 EXTRAGALACTIC Coordinate Source: OTHER_SOURCE 3 Q1543+489 EXT-MEDIUM, ABSORPTION RA=15H 45M 30.27S +/- 1", J2000 Z = V = 15.5 LINE SYSTEM - DEC=48D 46' 8.7" +/- 1" 0.400 F-CONT(1321)=7e-15 EXTRAGALACTIC F-CONT(1272)=7e-15 Coordinate Source: OTHER_SOURCE 8625( 7) - 02/21/01 08:32 - [ 4] Patterns ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pattern_Number: 222 Primary_Pattern Secondary_Pattern Pattern_Type STIS-ALONG-SLIT Pattern_Purpose DITHER Number_Of_Points 3 Point_Spacing 1. Coordinate_Frame POS-TARG Pattern_Orient 90 Center_Pattern NO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8625( 7) - 02/21/01 08:32 - [ 5] Visit: 01 Visit Priority: Visit Requirements: 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 Q1219+047 STIS/C ACQ F28X50L MIRROR ACQTYPE=POINT 1 3 S CD P ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 20 Q1219+047 STIS/C ACQ/PEA 52X0.1 MIRROR 1 3 S CD K ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 30 Q1219+047 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.1 G140M 1222 1 31 M EXPAND UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 40 Q1219+047 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.1 G140M 1222 1 48 M EXPAND PATTERN 222 40 UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 45 WAVE STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.1 G140M 1222 1 DEF UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8625( 7) - 02/21/01 08:32 - [ 6] Visit: 02 Visit Priority: Visit Requirements: 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 Q1219+047 STIS/C ACQ F28X50L MIRROR ACQTYPE=POINT 1 3 S CD P ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 20 Q1219+047 STIS/C ACQ/PEA 52X0.1 MIRROR 1 3 S CD K ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 30 Q1219+047 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.1 G140M 1222 1 31 M EXPAND UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 50 Q1219+047 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.1 G140M 1222 1 48 M EXPAND PATTERN 222 50 UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 55 WAVE STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.1 G140M 1222 1 DEF UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8625( 7) - 02/21/01 08:32 - [ 7] Visit: 03 Visit Priority: Visit Requirements: CVZ 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 MRK205 STIS/C ACQ F28X50L MIRROR 1 1 S CD P ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 20 MRK205 STIS/C ACQ/PEA 0.2X0.0 MIRROR 1 1 S CD K 6 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 30 MRK205 STIS/F ACCUM 0.2X0.0 E140M 1425 1 75 M UV-MAM 6 A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 40 MRK205 STIS/F ACCUM 0.2X0.0 E140M 1425 4 90 M UV-MAM 6 A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8625( 7) - 02/21/01 08:32 - [ 8] Visit: 04 Visit Priority: Visit Requirements: CVZ 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 MRK205 STIS/C ACQ F28X50L MIRROR 1 1 S CD P ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 20 MRK205 STIS/C ACQ/PEA 0.2X0.0 MIRROR 1 1 S CD K 6 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 30 MRK205 STIS/F ACCUM 0.2X0.0 E140M 1425 1 87 M NEW ALIGNMENT UV-MAM 6 A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 40 MRK205 STIS/F ACCUM 0.2X0.0 E140M 1425 1 87 M NEW ALIGNMENT UV-MAM 6 A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 50 MRK205 STIS/F ACCUM 0.2X0.0 E140M 1425 1 87 M NEW ALIGNMENT UV-MAM 6 A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 60 MRK205 STIS/F ACCUM 0.2X0.0 E140M 1425 1 87 M NEW ALIGNMENT UV-MAM 6 A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 70 MRK205 STIS/F ACCUM 0.2X0.0 E140M 1425 1 87 M NEW ALIGNMENT UV-MAM 6 A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8625( 7) - 02/21/01 08:32 - [ 9] Visit: 05 Visit Priority: Visit Requirements: CVZ 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 MRK205 STIS/C ACQ F28X50L MIRROR 1 1 S CD P ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 20 MRK205 STIS/C ACQ/PEA 0.2X0.0 MIRROR 1 1 S CD K 6 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 30 MRK205 STIS/F ACCUM 0.2X0.0 E140M 1425 1 87 M NEW ALIGNMENT UV-MAM 6 A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 40 MRK205 STIS/F ACCUM 0.2X0.0 E140M 1425 1 87 M NEW ALIGNMENT UV-MAM 6 A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 50 MRK205 STIS/F ACCUM 0.2X0.0 E140M 1425 1 87 M NEW ALIGNMENT UV-MAM 6 A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 60 MRK205 STIS/F ACCUM 0.2X0.0 E140M 1425 1 87 M NEW ALIGNMENT UV-MAM 6 A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 70 MRK205 STIS/F ACCUM 0.2X0.0 E140M 1425 1 87 M NEW ALIGNMENT UV-MAM 6 A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8625( 7) - 02/21/01 08:32 - [ 10] Visit: 07 Visit Priority: Visit Requirements: 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 Q1543+489 STIS/C ACQ F28X50L MIRROR 1 1 S CD P ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 20 Q1543+489 STIS/C ACQ/PEA 52X0.1 MIRROR 1 1 S CD K ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 30 Q1543+489 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.1 G140M 1321 1 32 M EXPAND UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 40 Q1543+489 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.1 G140M 1321 1 48 M EXPAND PATTERN 222 40 UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8625( 7) - 02/21/01 08:32 - [ 11] Visit: 08 Visit Priority: Visit Requirements: 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 Q1543+489 STIS/C ACQ F28X50L MIRROR 1 1 S CD P ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 20 Q1543+489 STIS/C ACQ/PEA 52X0.1 MIRROR 1 1 S CD K ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 30 Q1543+489 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.1 G140M 1272 1 32 M EXPAND UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 40 Q1543+489 STIS/F ACCUM 52X0.1 G140M 1272 1 48 M EXPAND PATTERN 222 40 UV-MAM A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8625( 7) - 02/21/01 08:32 - [ 12] Summary Form for Proposal 8625 Item Used in this proposal ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Apertures F28X50LP 52X0.1 0.2X0.06 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Configurations STIS/CCD STIS/FUV-MAMA ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Opmodes ACQ ACQ/PEAK ACCUM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Optional Parameters ACQTYPE=POINT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Proposal Category GO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Special Requirements EXPAND EXPAND PATTERN 222 40 EXPAND PATTERN 222 50 CVZ NEW ALIGNMENT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Spectral Elements MIRROR G140M E140M ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Target Names Q1219+047 WAVE MRK205 Q1543+489 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wavelengths 1222 1425 1321 1272 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------