6311( 0) - 07/18/95 21:57 - [ 1] PROPOSAL FOR HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OBSERVATIONS ST ScI Use Only ID: 6311 Version: ********** Check-in Date: ********** 1.Proposal Title: The Structure of Nova Shells ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2. Scientific Category 3. Proposal For 4. Cycle Interstellar Medium GO 4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5. Investigators Contact? PI: Michael Shara Space Telescope Science Institute CoI: Mario Livio Space Telescope Science Institute N CoI: Dina Prialnik Tel-Aviv University N CoI: Robert Williams Space Telescope Science Institute N CoI: David Zurek Space Telescope Science Institute N ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6. Abstract Recent WFPC2 observations of the recurrent nova T Pyxidis show that the ejected material from the previous eruptions is neither uniform nor isotropic. Rather, the ejecta is distributed in hundreds of unresolved knots. If this result is the norm for all nova ejecta then all previous mass estimates and ejection models for nova shells are probably incorrect. Observationally determined masses of nova shells provide a very important test to the nova theory. We are proposing to use WFPC2 to determine if 1) all nova shells are in fact broken into knots, and, for the closest shells, 2) to determine the size distribution of these knots. In addition WFPC2 observations of T Pyxidis will enable us to determine whether the clumpy shell is expanding. Finally, we are asking for a reendorsement (granted in cycles 1 and 4) to observe the effects of the next eruption of T Pyx (once in a generation and now several years overdue) on its multitude of circumstellar knots. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Observations Description ------------------------ We will image the structure of nova shell around T Pyx with WFPC2 using narrow- band filter (NII) corresponding to the brightest spectral feature seen in shell spectra. Real Time Justification ----------------------- None Calibration Justification ------------------------- Additional Comments ------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6311( 0) - 07/18/95 21:57 - [ 2] Data Distribution Media: 8MM Blocking Factor: 10 Ship To: PI_Address Ship Via: UPS Email: , ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6311( 0) - 07/18/95 21:57 - [ 3] TARGET LIST a) Fixed Targets ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tar| Target | Target | Target |Coord | Radial | Flux data No | Name | Description | Position |Eqnx | Vel. | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 T-PYXIDIS STAR,RECURRENT RA=9H 04M 41.500S +/- 0.02S,DEC= 2000 V=14.0 +/- 1.0 NOVA,SHELL -32D 22' 47.00" +/- 0.2",PLATE- ID=04J9 6311( 0) - 07/18/95 21:57 - [ 4] Visit: 01 Visit Requirements: PCS MODE Fine 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 T-PYXIDIS WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F658N CR-SPLIT = 0.5, 1 2300S CR-TOLERANCE = 0.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 T-PYXIDIS WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F658N CR-SPLIT = 0.5, 2 2600S CR-TOLERANCE = 0.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6311( 0) - 07/18/95 21:57 - [ 5] Visit: 02 Visit Requirements: PCS MODE Fine 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 T-PYXIDIS WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F658N CR-SPLIT = 0.5, 1 2300S CR-TOLERANCE = 0.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 T-PYXIDIS WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F658N CR-SPLIT = 0.5, 2 2600S CR-TOLERANCE = 0.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6311( 0) - 07/18/95 21:57 - [ 6] Visit: 03 Visit Requirements: PCS MODE Fine AFTER 2 BY 30D 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 T-PYXIDIS WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F658N CR-SPLIT = 0.5, 1 2300S CR-TOLERANCE = 0.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 T-PYXIDIS WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F658N CR-SPLIT = 0.5, 2 2600S CR-TOLERANCE = 0.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6311( 0) - 07/18/95 21:57 - [ 7] Summary Form for Proposal 6311 Item Used in this proposal ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Configurations WFPC2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Opmodes IMAGE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Optional Parameters CR-SPLIT = 0.5 CR-TOLERANCE = 0.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Proposal Category GO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Scientific Category Interstellar Medium ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Special Requirements PCS MODE Fine PCS MODE Fine AFTER 2 BY 30D ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Spectral Elements F658N ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Target Names T-PYXIDIS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------