[sci.astro] Hubble Space Telescope Update - 11/03/90

baalke@mars.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke) (11/10/90)

                            HST STATUS REPORT
                             November 3, 1990
 
     GODDARD HIGH RESOLUTION SPECTROMETER (GHRS): All phases of a fine
alignment test went well.  Analysis showed that all edges of both the large (2
arc second square) science aperture and the small (1/4 arc second square)
science aperture were scanned as planned.  That means that the star was placed
in the center of the aperture, then moved in and out of the aperture in
different directions (edges). These tests are done to facilitate future
movements of the telescope to line up a particular star in the aperture.  This
test marked the first time a star was placed in the small science aperture.
 
     HIGH SPEED PHOTOMETER (HSP): Focus and aperture map test with the
ultraviolet detector was performed successfully.
 
     FAINT OBJECT SPECTROGRAPH (FOC): Obtained three good spectra on Seyfert
Galaxy NGC 1068.
 
     WIDE FIELD/PLANETARY CAMERA (WF/PC): Completed ultraviolet flood guiding
test in which the flood mirror successfully was commanded into the flood
position.  Sixteen exposures of the Sun were taken. This is in preparation for
a later activity in which ultraviolet light will be aimed at the instrument's
charged coupled devices (CCDs), which need ultraviolet light.
 
     ASTROMETRY: A test of the parameters of binaries (a system of two stars
that revolve around their common center of gravity) was "overwhelmingly
successful."  Five good scans out of five fine locks were obtained.  From these
observations, a much better orbit can be derived on a binary star.
      ___    _____     ___
     /_ /|  /____/ \  /_ /|
     | | | |  __ \ /| | | |      Ron Baalke         | baalke@mars.jpl.nasa.gov
  ___| | | | |__) |/  | | |___   Jet Propulsion Lab | baalke@jems.jpl.nasa.gov
 /___| | | |  ___/    | |/__ /|  M/S 301-355        |
 |_____|/  |_|/       |_____|/   Pasadena, CA 91109 |