6527( 4) - 03/27/96 13:54 - [ 1] PROPOSAL FOR HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OBSERVATIONS ST ScI Use Only ID: 6527 Version: 4 Check-in Date: 27-Mar-1996 13:51:56 1.Proposal Title: Search for the Optical Counterpart of PSR1055-52. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2. Scientific Category 3. Proposal For 4. Cycle HOT STARS GO 6 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5. Investigators Contact? PI: Roberto P. Mignani Istituto di Fisica Cosmica del CNR CoI: Giovanni F. Bignami Istituto di Fisica Cosmica del CNR N CoI: Patrizia A. Caraveo Istituto di Fisica Cosmica del CNR N ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6. Abstract PSR1055-52 is an Isolated Neutron Star (INS) observed through its pulsed emission from radio to Gamma rays. The region around PSR1055-52 was observed with ESO telescopes, but no optical counterpart was found, probably because the radio position falls close (~ 4sec point) to a bright (m_V =14.6) field star. We now plan to get new deep higher resolution images of the region with the HST/FOC in order to detect any emission from the pulsar, exploiting both the seeing-free HST optics and the UV sensitivity of the FOC. Detectability is supported by the case of two similar INSs, Geminga and PSR0656+14, both successfully seen with the HST/FOC. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Observations Description ------------------------ We plan to perform deep high resolution imaging around the radio position of PSR1055-52 in order to detect its UV emission with the FOC. To estimate the exposure times we used FOCSIM and, as a reference, our FOC observation of Geminga, gathered during Cycle 4. According to FOCSIM, exposure times of 4500 and 6500 sec in the F342W and F275W filters, respectively, should be adequate to detect the target with a S/N 30. Therefore, we ask for two exposures: one of 4500 sec. (F342W filter) and the other of 6500 sec (F275W filter). These exposures, split in shorter chunks to minimize cosmic rays contamination, will be fitted in 5 orbits. Real Time Justification ----------------------- Calibration Justification ------------------------- Additional Comments ------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6527( 4) - 03/27/96 13:54 - [ 2] Data Distribution Media: 8MM Blocking Factor: 10 Ship To: PI_Address Ship Via: UPS Email: , ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6527( 4) - 03/27/96 13:54 - [ 3] TARGET LIST a) Fixed Targets ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tar| Target | Target | Target |Coord | Radial | Flux data No | Name | Description | Position |Eqnx | Vel. | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 01 STAR-1057- STAR,NEUTRON STAR RA=10H 57M 58.84S +/- 0.29S, J2000 V = 25 5226 DEC=-52D 26' 56.28" +/- 0.29", PLATE-ID=03C2 6527( 4) - 03/27/96 13:54 - [ 4] Visit: 01 Visit Requirements: PCS MODE F 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 STAR-1057- FOC/96 IMAGE 512X512 F342W 3410 1 2700S 5226 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 STAR-1057- FOC/96 IMAGE 512X512 F342W 3410 1 2800S 5226 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3 STAR-1057- FOC/96 IMAGE 512X512 F342W 3410 1 2900S 5226 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6527( 4) - 03/27/96 13:54 - [ 5] Summary Form for Proposal 6527 Item Used in this proposal ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Configurations FOC/96 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Opmodes IMAGE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Proposal Category GO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Scientific Category HOT STARS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Special Requirements PCS MODE F ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Spectral Elements F342W ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Target Names STAR-1057-5226 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------