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11 Apr 2003

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

DAILY REPORT        # 3339

PERIOD COVERED: DOY 100

Part 2 of 3

STIS 9509

Probing the Distance and Structure of the LMC Using Eclipsing
Binaries: STIS 

The distance to the LMC is crucial to calibrating the Cosmic Distance
Scale but remains controversial and uncertain despite the efforts of
many investigators. We have shown that the analysis of eclipsing
binary {EB} systems has the potential to resolve this controversy. We
have determined accurate distances to three eclipsing binaries in the
LMC. Two EBs in the LMC bar, HV 2274 and EROS 1044, yield a
consistent distance of 46.0+/-1.2 kpc for the bar itself. A third
system, HV 982, is located at a greater distance {50.2+/-1.2 kpc},
which is similar to that of the nearby SN 1987A {51.4+/-1.2 kpc}.
These results may suggest a significant depth to the LMC populations
but a larger stellar sample is needed to verify this. The distances
of the program stars were derived from ground-based light curves, HST
or CTIO radial velocity data, and HST UV/optical spectrophotometry.
We propose HST/STIS low-resolution spectra of seven LMC EBs for which
we already have radial velocity and light curves. This will permit us
to complete the analysis and derive accurate {to ~3%} individual
distances. HST/STIS spectroscopy {covering 115-800nm} is a key
dataset because it provides Teff, Fe/H, and A_lambda. The ensemble of
targets, in addition to nailing down the distance to the LMC, will
provide fundamental stellar properties and a detailed probe of the
structure and spatial extent of this important galaxy, in particular
its line-of-sight depth. 

WFPC2 9594

WFPC2 CYCLE 11 SUPPLEMENTAL DARKS pt2/3

This dark calibration program obtains 3 dark frames every day to
provide data for monitoring and characterizing the evolution of hot
pixels 

STIS 9606

CCD Dark Monitor-Part 2

Monitor the darks for the STIS CCD.

STIS 9608

CCD Bias Monitor - Part 2

Monitor the bias in the 1x1, 1x2, 2x1, and 2x2 bin settings at
gain=1, and 1x1 at gain = 4, to build up high-S/N superbiases and
track the evolution of hot columns.

ACS 9649

ACS internal CTE monitor

The charge transfer efficiency {CTE} of the ACS CCD detectors will
decline as damage due to on-orbit radiation exposure accumulates.
This degradation will be closely monitored at regular intervals,
because it is likely to determine the useful lifetime of the CCDs.
All the data for this program is acquired using internal targets
{lamps} only, so all of the exposures should be taken during Earth
occultation time {but not during SAA passages}. This program emulates
the ACS pre-flight ground calibration and post-launch SMOV testing
{program 8948}, so that results from each epoch can be directly
compared. Extended Pixel Edge Response {EPER} and First Pixel
Response {FPR} data will be obtained over a range of signal levels
for both the Wide Field Channel {WFC}, and the High Resolution
Channel {HRC}. 

ACS 9673

CCD Daily Monitor

This program consists of basic tests to monitor, the read noise, the 
development of hot pixels and test for any source of noise in ACS CCD
detectors. This programme will be executed once a day for the entire
lifetime of ACS 

WFPC2 9676

POMS Test Proposal: WFII parallel archive proposal

This is the generic target version of the WFPC2 Archival Pure
Parallel program. The program will be used to take parallel images of
random areas of the sky, following the recommendations of the 2002
Parallels Working Group. 

ACS/WFC 9682

The Physics of Relativistic Jets: Deep Chandra and HST Observations
of Two Newly Discovered Jets

We propose deep observations of two X-ray-bright jets newly
discovered in our A02 Survey, both with optical counterparts in our
HST images. The targets were selected because of their interesting
physical properties. Our goals are to obtain high-quality x-ray and
optical images to study the jet morphologies and determine the x-ray
and optical spectra. Both the morphologies and spectra will test the
origin of x-rays, whether they are from inverse Compton on microwave
background phtons vs direct synchrotron emission, allowing us to
determine the jet physical parameters {Lorentz factors, particle
distributions, and beaming} at different locations in the jet. This
has important implications on the modes of energy transport and
dissipation in relativistic jets.

ACS/WFC/HRC 9696

Hubble Heritage observations of NGC 3370

Hubble Heritage proposes to observe NGC 3370 in conjunction with GO
program 9351 {PI Adam Riess} to use the combined data to produce a
three color image. 

NICMOS 9702

NICMOS Parallel Thermal Background

NICMOS Camera 2 pure parallel exposures in the F222M and F237M
filters to establish the stability of the HST+NCS+Instrument thermal
emission. This data will be compared against the already available
Camera 3 measurements in F222M which show an increased thermal
background. 

STIS 9706

STIS Pure Parallel Imaging Program: Cycle 10

WFPC2 9709

POMS Test Proposal: WFII parallel archive proposal

used to take paralell images of random areas of the sky, following
the recommendations of the 2002 Parallels Working Group.

 - Continued -

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