9694( 18) - 11/11/02 08:57 - [ 1] PROPOSAL FOR HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OBSERVATIONS ST ScI Use Only ID: 9694 Version: 18 Check-in Date: 11-Nov-2002 08:56:31 1.Proposal Title: HST Imaging Polarimetry of the Light Echo around V838 Monocerotis. Part III. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2. Proposal For 3. Cycle GO/DD 11 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4. Investigators Contact? PI: Howard Bond Space Telescope Science Institute CoI: Sumner Starrfield Arizona State University N CoI: Nino Panagia Space Telescope Science Institute N CoI: William Sparks Space Telescope Science Institute N CoI: R. Mark Wagner University of Arizona N CoI: Arne Henden US Naval Observatory N ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5. Abstract V838 Mon, which burst upon the astronomical scene in January 2002, is a completely unanticipated new kind of object: it has undergone an outburst somewhat similar to that of an extremely slow nova, but its spectrum is unique and totally unlike that of any type of nova. Knowledge of the distance and luminosity of this unexpected object is crucial to understanding its nature and origin. A rapidly evolving light echo around V838 Mon was detected from the ground by Henden in February, and provides us with the means to make a direct geometric determination of the distance through polarimetric imaging. We submitted a DD proposal to obtain polarimetry of the light echo with ACS, and the program was approved for 2 orbits (GO/DD-9587). Our first one-orbit visit, on 2002 April 30, provided spectacular $B$-band images of the light echo, with at least 11 distinct rings (corresponding to sheets of interstellar material in the line of sight, and/or structures in circumstellar material). On the basis of this initial image, we submitted a second DD proposal (``Part~II''), which was approved for one additional orbit (GO/DD-9588). Our 2nd, two-orbit visit was on 2002 May 20, and consisted of polarimetric imaging in $B$ and $V$, and direct imaging in $I$. These results were even more spectacular, and will be the basis for a forthcoming press release. The purpose of this supplemental request (``Part~III'') is to ask for four more visits between now and the beginning of Cycle~12, for a total of 15 additional orbits. The urgency for obtaining the observations now arises from the expected fast decay of the surface brightness, which goes as $t^{-1}$ for the ``superluminal'' material well away from the star, and as $t^{-2}$ for circumstellar material. In addition to the distance determination, our observations will provide a 3-D map of the interstellar (or circumstellar) medium in the vicinity of V838~Mon. The approved program is for 2 visits, for a total of 9 orbits. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9694( 18) - 11/11/02 08:57 - [ 2] Observations Description ------------------------ We will obtain V-band polarimetry, and BVI imaging, using ACS/WFC. Observations will be done at two epochs in order to monitor the changing light echo, determine the distance to the object, and make a 3-D map of the circumstellar dust shell. Real Time Justification ----------------------- Calibration Justification ------------------------- Additional Comments ------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9694( 18) - 11/11/02 08:57 - [ 3] TARGET LIST Fixed Targets ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tar| Target | Target | Target |Coord | Radial | Flux data No | Name | Description | Position |Eqnx | Vel. | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 V838-MON STAR, NOVA-LIKE RA=07H 04M 04.79S +/- 0.1", J2000 V = 15.0+/-1.0 DEC=-03D 50' 50.2" +/- 0.1" Coordinate Source: Other_Source: previous data 9694( 18) - 11/11/02 08:57 - [ 4] Visit: 04 Visit Priority: Visit Requirements: BETWEEN 24-AUG-2002 AND 07-SEP-2002 ORIENT 115D TO 115D ORIENT 247D TO 254D On Hold Comments: Additional Comments: This visit to be done just after target emerges from solar avoidance zone. ORIENT should be as close as possible to that of Visit 3 of GO-9588, i.e., 115D (or steps of +/- 45D therefrom). Exposures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Exposure| Target |Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Central| Optional |Num| Time | Special Number | Name |Config| Mode |or FOV |Element |Waveln.| Parameters |Exp| | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10 V838-MON ACS/WF ACCUM WFC POL0V, CR-SPLIT=NO 2 480 S C F606W ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 20 V838-MON ACS/WF ACCUM WFC POL60V, CR-SPLIT=NO 2 480 S C F606W ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 30 V838-MON ACS/WF ACCUM WFC POL120V, CR-SPLIT=NO 2 480 S C F606W ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 40 V838-MON ACS/WF ACCUM WFC1-FI F435W CR-SPLIT=NO 2 580 S POS TARG 50.64, 4.48 C X Comments: The purpose of the POS TARG is to place the target at the same location as for exposures 10-30, according to our understanding of where polarimetry targets are placed with respect to the center of WFC1. There should NOT be a SAM before this exposure ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 50 V838-MON ACS/WF ACCUM WFC1-FI F814W CR-SPLIT=NO 1 100 S POS TARG 50.64, 4.48 C X Comments: The purpose of the POS TARG is to place the target at the same location as for exposures 10-30, according to our understanding of where polarimetry targets are placed with respect to the center of WFC1. There should NOT be a SAM before this exposure ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 60 V838-MON ACS/WF ACCUM WFC1-FI F435W CR-SPLIT=NO 2 860 S POS TARG 50.64, 4.48 C X Comments: The purpose of the POS TARG is to place the target at the same location as for exposures 10-30, according to our understanding of where polarimetry targets are placed with respect to the center of WFC1. There should NOT be a SAM before this exposure ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9694( 18) - 11/11/02 08:57 - [ 5] Exposures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Exposure| Target |Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Central| Optional |Num| Time | Special Number | Name |Config| Mode |or FOV |Element |Waveln.| Parameters |Exp| | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 70 V838-MON ACS/WF ACCUM WFC1-FI F814W CR-SPLIT=NO 1 100 S POS TARG 50.64, 4.48 C X Comments: The purpose of the POS TARG is to place the target at the same location as for exposures 10-30, according to our understanding of where polarimetry targets are placed with respect to the center of WFC1. There should NOT be a SAM before this exposure ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9694( 18) - 11/11/02 08:57 - [ 6] Visit: 05 Visit Priority: Visit Requirements: BETWEEN 21-OCT-2002 AND 04-NOV-2002 ORIENT 115D TO 115D ORIENT 295D TO 295D On Hold Comments: Additional Comments: ORIENT should be as close as possible to that of Visit 3 of GO-9588, i.e., 115D (or steps of +/- 90D therefrom). Exposures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Exposure| Target |Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Central| Optional |Num| Time | Special Number | Name |Config| Mode |or FOV |Element |Waveln.| Parameters |Exp| | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10 V838-MON ACS/WF ACCUM WFC1-FI F814W CR-SPLIT=NO 1 180 S POS TARG 50.64, 4.48 C X Comments: The purpose of the POS TARG is to place the target at the same location as for the above polarimetry visits, according to our understanding of where polarimetry targets are placed with respect to the center of WFC1. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 20 V838-MON ACS/WF ACCUM WFC1-FI F435W CR-SPLIT=NO 2 1060 S POS TARG 50.64, 4.48 C X ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 30 V838-MON ACS/WF ACCUM WFC1-FI F814W CR-SPLIT=NO 1 180 S POS TARG 50.64, 4.48 C X ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 40 V838-MON ACS/WF ACCUM WFC1-FI F435W CR-SPLIT=NO 2 850 S POS TARG 50.64, 4.48 C X ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 50 V838-MON ACS/WF ACCUM WFC1-FI F606W CR-SPLIT=NO 1 350 S POS TARG 50.64, 4.48 C X ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 60 V838-MON ACS/WF ACCUM WFC1-FI F606W CR-SPLIT=NO 1 350 S POS TARG 50.64, 4.48 C X ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 70 V838-MON ACS/WF ACCUM WFC1-FI F435W CR-SPLIT=NO 2 1030 S POS TARG 50.64, 4.48 C X ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9694( 18) - 11/11/02 08:57 - [ 7] Visit: 06 Visit Priority: Visit Requirements: BETWEEN 10-DEC-2002 AND 24-DEC-2002 ORIENT 115D TO 115D ORIENT 295D TO 295D ORIENT 25D TO 25D ORIENT 340D TO 340D SCHED 80% On Hold Comments: Additional Comments: ORIENT should be as close as possible to that of Visit 3 of GO-9588, i.e., 115D (or steps of +/- 90D or +/- 45D therefrom). Exposures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Exposure| Target |Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Central| Optional |Num| Time | Special Number | Name |Config| Mode |or FOV |Element |Waveln.| Parameters |Exp| | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10 V838-MON ACS/WF ACCUM WFC POL0V, 1 910 S C F606W ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 20 V838-MON ACS/WF ACCUM WFC POL60V, 1 910 S C F606W ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 30 V838-MON ACS/WF ACCUM WFC POL120V, 1 910 S C F606W ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 40 V838-MON ACS/WF ACCUM WFC1-FI F435W 1 1070 S POS TARG 50.64, 4.48 C X Comments: The purpose of the POS TARG is to place the target at the same location as for exposures 10-30, according to our understanding of where polarimetry targets are placed with respect to the center of WFC1. There should NOT be a SAM before this exposure ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 50 V838-MON ACS/WF ACCUM WFC1-FI F814W CR-SPLIT=NO 1 100 S POS TARG 50.64, 4.48 C X Comments: The purpose of the POS TARG is to place the target at the same location as for exposures 10-30, according to our understanding of where polarimetry targets are placed with respect to the center of WFC1. There should NOT be a SAM before this exposure ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 60 V838-MON ACS/WF ACCUM WFC1-FI F435W 1 1540 S POS TARG 50.64, 4.48 C X Comments: The purpose of the POS TARG is to place the target at the same location as for exposures 10-30, according to our understanding of where polarimetry targets are placed with respect to the center of WFC1. There should NOT be a SAM before this exposure ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9694( 18) - 11/11/02 08:57 - [ 8] Exposures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Exposure| Target |Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Central| Optional |Num| Time | Special Number | Name |Config| Mode |or FOV |Element |Waveln.| Parameters |Exp| | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 70 V838-MON ACS/WF ACCUM WFC1-FI F814W CR-SPLIT=NO 1 100 S POS TARG 50.64, 4.48 C X Comments: The purpose of the POS TARG is to place the target at the same location as for exposures 10-30, according to our understanding of where polarimetry targets are placed with respect to the center of WFC1. There should NOT be a SAM before this exposure ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9694( 18) - 11/11/02 08:57 - [ 9] Summary Form for Proposal 9694 Item Used in this proposal ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Apertures WFC WFC1-FIX ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Configurations ACS/WFC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Opmodes ACCUM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Optional Parameters CR-SPLIT=NO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Proposal Category GO/DD ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Special Requirements BETWEEN 24-AUG-2002 AND 07-SEP-2002 ORIENT 115D TO 115D ORIENT 247D TO 254D POS TARG 50.64, 4.48 BETWEEN 21-OCT-2002 AND 04-NOV-2002 ORIENT 115D TO 115D ORIENT 295D TO 295D BETWEEN 10-DEC-2002 AND 24-DEC-2002 ORIENT 115D TO 115D ORIENT 295D TO 295D ORIENT 25D TO 25D ORIENT 340D TO 340D SCHED 80% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Spectral Elements POL0V,F606W POL60V,F606W POL120V,F606W F435W F814W F606W ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Target Names V838-MON ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------