Space & Astronomy/Space and Astronomy (October 1993).iso/mac/TEXT/SPACEDIG/V12_6/V12_664.TXT

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Subject: SPACE Digest V12 #664

SPACE Digest                                     Volume 12 : Issue 664

Today's Topics:
             ASTRO status at 5/21:00 MET
    Re: Astro-1 Status for 12/08/90 [0400 CST] (Forwarded)
             Powerful telescope for sale
              Re: Another Russian first
        HUT Status for 12/08/90 [1100 CST] (Forwarded)
       BBXRT Status for 12/07/90 [1600 CST] (Forwarded)
               ASTRO status at 6/12:30
             ASTRO status at 7/11:30 MET

Administrivia:

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----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 8 Dec 90 03:50:16 GMT
From: uvaarpa!murdoch![e-mail]  (Greg Hennessy)
Subject: ASTRO status at 5/21:00 MET

The ASTRO telescopes have settled into routine observations. BBXRT has
finally fully aligned its Two Axis Pointing System (TAPS) and is
taking observations on all of its scheduled objects this shift. Before
the alignment was off a few arcminutes, which meant that the energy
was not falling into the central pixel.

The UV instruments attempted observations of 11 objecs, and were
sucessful on 10, Capella being the exception due to the Instrument
Points System starting its acquisition late. The procedures for ground
control have not fully be worked out yet, and the teams are still
getting used to this. Considering that teams did not simulate the loss
of both DDU's, the preformance has been remarkable. Observations were
acquired on Gam Gem, the Supernova 1987A, M31 (twice), the bright limb
of the earth (to flatfield and calibrate UIT), HZ43, HD25443, and most
excitingly, Jupiter. HUT was observing Ganynamede, while WUPPE was
observing IO and the torus around it.

There was 397 minutes of time scheduled, and 200 minuts observed for
50 percent. I include the updated chart:

Shift    Scheduled    Obtained    Percentage    Notes
6    345         54        17
7    418        163        38        Startracker patched
8    429        189        44
9    428        247        57
10     36          8         4        2nd DDU died
11    343        187        55
12    397        200        50

A tenth day has officially been granted, and the teams have been
instructed to plan for a possible 11th day. It is unknown when the
decision for an eleventh day would be made.

Isn't it amazing how good news takes up much less space than bad news?


--
-Greg Hennessy, University of Virginia
 USPS Mail:     Astronomy Department, Charlottesville, VA 22903-2475 USA
 Internet:      [e-mail]
 UUCP:        ...!uunet!virginia!gsh7w

------------------------------

Date: 10 Dec 90 00:23:53 GMT
From: pasteur!dog.ee.lbl.gov!hellgate.utah.edu!cs.utexas.edu!asuvax!mcdphx!xroads![e-mail]  (Jerry Rightnour)
Subject: Re: Astro-1 Status for 12/08/90 [0400 CST] (Forwarded)

In:
         Astro-1 Shift Summary Report #19
         4:00 a.m. CST Dec. 8, 1990
         6/02:40 MET
         Spacelab Mission Operations Control
         Marshall Space Flight Center,
         Huntsville, AL

         [deleted text]

         During this time, the three ultraviolet telescopes focused on
         L2 Puppis, a red, semi-regular variable star located in the
         constellation Puppis.  L2 Puppis is one of the first stellar
         sources to have water positively identified in its spectrum.

Where would water be in a star?  I thought stars were too hot for molecular
structures.  Does this imply water molecules in the space surrounding
L2 Puppis?

Jerry Rightnour       [e-mail]
--
\  /  C r o s s r o a d s  C o m m u n i c a t i o n s
 /\   [phone] 300|1200|2400 Baud 24 hrs/day
/  \  hplabs!hp-sdd!crash!xroads!quark

------------------------------

Date: 10 Dec 90 00:25:06 GMT
From: fernwood!oracle![e-mail]  (Eric Tilenius)
Subject: Powerful telescope for sale


                       POWERFUL 6" REFLECTING TELESCOPE
                         EDMUND SCIENTIFIC NO. 85,086

                                 * FOR SALE *
                                * JUST $650! *

This 6" reflecting telescope is wonderful for the serious amateur astronomer.
It features:

    - 6" parabolic mirror polished to within 1/4 wavelength of light
        (that's accurate to within 0.0000055 inches!)

    - Clock drive / tracking motor to keep telescope oriented on
        objects as the Earth turns.

    - Will reveal faint stars to nearly 13th magnitude under
        favorable conditions!

    - 4' mirror housing (this is a big telescope!)

    - Can split double stars separated by only .75 seconds of arc!

    - 1" focal length Kellner eyepiece
    - 1/2" and 1/4" focal length Ramsden eyepieces

    - Mounted Barlow assembly w/ color corrected 2-element Barlow
        lens of 46.6 mm focal length

    - 6x sighting telescope

    - Heavy-duty no-rust pedestal mount and weight mechanisms

    - PLUS BOOKS on how to use & get the most out of it, and more!

Excellent condition!  A beautiful instrument!
$650 includes everything listed above.

You must come and pick it up or arrange for pickup -- too tricky to ship!
Please CALL or EMAIL soon!

DAY: 415-506-3175     EVE: 415-595-2049     EMAIL: [e-mail]

                                                       - Eric Tilenius

------------------------------

Date: 9 Dec 90 19:00:30 GMT
From: rochester!sol![e-mail]  (Brian Yamauchi)
Subject: Re: Another Russian first

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Henry Spencer) writes:
   In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Glen Pill) writes:
   >> Interesting to note that the Soviets have had a string of workable space
   >> stations, while Skylab 2 is sitting inside of the National Air & Space Museum.
   >
   >I always thought skylab was splattered over Western Australia.

   Skylab 1 got delivered to the Australians in pieces.  Skylab 2 is in the
   NASM.  (Yes, there was a second one.)

I always thought that one was a mock-up -- are you saying it could
have been an operational station?  And to think that there is a real
Saturn V rusting outside of MSFC...
--
_______________________________________________________________________________

Brian Yamauchi                University of Rochester
[e-mail]        Computer Science Department
_______________________________________________________________________________

------------------------------

Date: 9 Dec 90 23:47:44 GMT
From: trident.arc.nasa.gov![e-mail]  (Peter E. Yee)
Subject: HUT Status for 12/08/90 [1100 CST] (Forwarded)


         HUT Status Report #7
         12/8/90
         11 a.m. CST

              The Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope team just completed its first
         successful observation of a cataclysmic variable, Z Camelopardalis.

              Z-Cam is located about 1,100 light-years from Earth, in the
         constellation Camelopardalis.  It is two stars -- a white dwaft and a
         red giant -- locked in a stellar waltz by gravity.  The white dwarf
         pulls material from its aging partner, creating a hot, swirling
         whirlpool of matter known as an accretion disk.  In sudden outbursts,
         huge chunks of matter are ripped away from the red giant and drawn
         into the accretion disk.

         Z-Cam was not on HUT's schedule fo targets, but a recent outburst made
         the CV a high-priority observation.  Amateur astronomers in the
         American Association of Variable Star Observers informed the HUT team
         of the outburst.

         Although astronomers have known for years that CVs have these periodic
         outbursts, the mechanism which causes them is not understood.  When
         these outbursts occur, the CV becomes 100 times brighter than usual
         and emits such bursts of radiation that stellar winds with speeds
         greater than 1,000 kilometers per second blast particles of matter out
         into space in all directions.

         Knox Long, project scientist for HUT, said Hut's observation should
         help Hopkins astronomers better understand the structure of the
         accretion disk.  The observation was important, he said, because CVs
         are a common example of how stars end their lifetime.  Also, he said,
         accretion disks are common throughout the universe -- in planet
         information, in quasars, and in Seyfert galaxies -- so new information
         about them is valuable.

         "This is a good object to study, since we think we know more about
         cataclysmic variables than other systems with accretion disks," Long
         said.

         "We can observe CVs so much more clearly and understand their physics
         more easily than more distant objects,"  added William Blair,
         assistant project scientist.  "So we can apply what we learn with
         Z-Cam to other objects."

         The spectrum HUT produced is of much higher quality than earlier
         spectra by the International Ultraviolet Explorer, Long said.  "one
         advantage here is that we have a much higher signal-to-noise ratio, so
         we can study emission lines not observable with IUE."

         Also, Blair added, HUT observed Z-Cam in wavelengths below 900
         angstroms, far too short for IUE -- or any other telescope -- to
         observe.  Finally, HUT can measure the variations in ultraviolet light
         output on much shorter timescales than has been done previously.

         "I feel great about getting this observation at last," Long said.
         "I'm hoping we'll observe several other CVs before the end of the
         mission.

------------------------------

Date: 8 Dec 90 20:07:41 GMT
From: trident.arc.nasa.gov![e-mail]  (Peter E. Yee)
Subject: BBXRT Status for 12/07/90 [1600 CST] (Forwarded)


     BBXRT Status Report #06
     4 p.m. CST Dec. 7
     Spacelab Mission Operations Control
     Marshall Space Flight Center

     "Fantastic," a smiling Dr. Peter Serlemitsos said.  "We're doing
     great."  Serlemitsos, principal investigator of the BBXRT, was
     commenting on the instrument's first detailed observation of
     Supernova 1987A.  BBXRT locked onto the target at about 11:30 a.m.
     CST and observed the supernova for 35 minutes.  Three earlier
     observation attempts had proven unsuccessful.

     BBXRT was added to the Astro-1 mission after the discovery of the
     supernova in February 1987.  "The supernova is an extremely weak
     source," Serlemitsos said.  "The only way we will know anything will
     be through through analysis of data after the mission."

     The data collected from today's observation will be analyzed at the
     Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD, the control center for
     BBXRT.

     The instrument is continuing to perform extremely well.  At the end
     of the night shift, the BBXRT was observing all its targets with
     high efficency.

------------------------------

Date: 8 Dec 90 19:37:32 GMT
From: uvaarpa!murdoch![e-mail]  (Greg Hennessy)
Subject: ASTRO status at 6/12:30

The telescopes on astro continue on their by now routine observations.
The ground control of the telescopes is working well for all
telescopes, with the possible exception of WUPPE. The WUPPE telescope
is working fine physically, but WUPPE has the smallest field of view
and is the most compilcated instrument. The latter means that many
more commands must be sent for its operation, and this takes time,
which cuts down the amount of observing time possible. The WUPPE team
attempted four observations as primary, HD25443, L2PUP, Zeta Tau, and
Alpha Orionis (Betelgeuse). Only the observations of Zeta Tau and
L2PUP were sucessful. WUPPE did obtain data when HUT or UIT were
primary instruments, on NGC891 and NGC1068, large galaxies,and IC63 a
supernova remnant, all large objects that WUPPPE had no problem
getting in their slit. HUT was primary target on the Sn1987A, NGC4151
(a Seyfert 1 galaxy), IC63, and NGC 1068, a Seyfert 2 galaxy. UIT was
very pleased to get lots of deep exposures of these extended objects,
and was primary observer on NGC253 and NGC891 both spiral galaxies
seen large angles. NGC891 is almost edge on, and is expected to be
much like our own galaxy. It is noted for haveing a large halo of hot
gas sourrounding it.

The biggest problem remaining is the problem with the shuttle getting
rid of the waste water. Right now it appears that the mission would
have to be cut short to nine days, or even eight, neither circumstance
very palatable to the astronomers. There is another water dump later
today, and it appears that the mission will be either 11 days with a
sucessful water dump, or 9 days with an unsucessful water dump. More
details will be made available when I get them. Listening on the loop
gives a new rumor every 10 minutes.

The current chart of observing time is:
Shift    Scheduled    Obtained    Percentage    Notes
6    345         54        17
7    418        163        38        Startracker patched
8    429        189        44
9    428        247        57
10     36          8         4        2nd DDU died
11    343        187        55
12    397        200        50
13    350        181        51

These figures count only time obtained by the primary UV instrument.
For example, the WUPPE observation of Betelgeuse was scheduled for 31
minutes, and since WUPPE obtained no data it was counted as zero
observing time, even thought HUT got 31 minutes on this object.
Likewise teh observation of L2PUP had WUUPE as primary getting 6
minutes, whle HUT and UIT each got about 25 minutes of data. For the
shift, HUT got 67 percent of its data, and UIT got 66 percent. It
would be hard to get much more then this. BBXRT is controlled from
Goddard Space Flight Center and I don't know its values.
--
-Greg Hennessy, University of Virginia
 USPS Mail:     Astronomy Department, Charlottesville, VA 22903-2475 USA
 Internet:      [e-mail]
 UUCP:        ...!uunet!virginia!gsh7w

------------------------------

Date: 9 Dec 90 18:16:31 GMT
From: uvaarpa!murdoch![e-mail]  (Greg Hennessy)
Subject: ASTRO status at 7/11:30 MET

ASTRO continues in routine observatons. Last night's shift had all
instruments getting lots of sucessful acquisitions, and WUPPE made
three long observations of its primary targets, the last instrument to
acquire its primary observations. Last shift there were 256 minutes of
scientific observations scheduled (a test of the engines called a RCS
Hotfire took up about 3 hours of the shift) and obtainded 186 minutes,
for a 72 percent. This is about as good as we are going to get, since
I include a chard of the hops that the commands go through. The objcts
observed included NGC 1851, M13, SS-Cyg, N49A+B, the Perseus cluster,
Abell 665, HD37903, HD25443, and G70D8247. The current chart looks
like

Shift    Scheduled    Obtained    Percentage    Notes
6    345         54        17
7    418        163        38        Startracker patched
8    429        189        44
9    428        247        57
10     36          8         4        2nd DDU died
11    343        187        55
12    397        200        50
13    350        181        51
14    371        216        58
15    256        186        72

There is still no decision on the length of the mission. If it is only
a 9 day mission, observing will  stop in about 12 hours.



IPS contingency Pointing Servo Loop

-------      -------      ------------------
| IPS |<-----| MPC |<-----|       APS      |<-------
-------      -------      | HAND-BRAIN-EAR |       |
   |                      ------------------       |
   V                                               |
--------                                           |
| AST  |                                           |
| IMCS |                                           |
--------                                           |
   |                                               |
   v                                          -----------
------------                                  | SHUTTLE |
| SPACELAB |                                  -----------
------------                                       ^
   |                                               |
   v                                          ---------
-----------                                   | TDRSS |
| SHUTTLE |                                   ----------
-----------                                        ^
   |                                               |
   V                                           --------
---------                                      | WSGS |
| TDRSS |                                      --------
---------                                          ^
   |                                               |
   V                                           ----------
--------                                       | DOMSAT |
| WSGS |                                       ----------
--------                                            ^
   |                                                |
   V                                            --------
----------                                      | GSFC |
| DOMSAT |                                      --------
----------                                          ^
  |                                                 |
  V                                             ----------
--------                                        | DOMSAT |
| GSFC |                                        ----------
--------                                            ^
   |                                                |
   V                                             -------
--------                                         | JSC |
| POCC |                                         -------
--------                                            ^
   |                                                |
   V                                             ----------
-------                                          | DOMSAT |
| SOA |                                          ----------
-------                                             ^
  |                                                 |
  V                                                 |
--------  ----------  -------------------        --------
| IMCS |  | POCC   |  |      APS        |        |      |
| STRIP|->| VIDEO  |->| EYE-BRAIN-VOICE |------->| POCC |
| CHART|  | MATRIX |  |                 |        |      |
--------  ----------  -------------------        --------


--
-Greg Hennessy, University of Virginia
 USPS Mail:     Astronomy Department, Charlottesville, VA 22903-2475 USA
 Internet:      [e-mail]
 UUCP:        ...!uunet!virginia!gsh7w

------------------------------

End of SPACE Digest V12 #664
*******************