Hubble Space Telescope Primer for Cycle 11

1.2 Resources, Documentation and Tools

---

1.2.1 Cycle 11 Announcement Web Page

The Cycle 11 Announcement Web Page contains links to information and documentation (including this Primer) that will be of use to you in the preparation of an HST proposal. It also contains any late-breaking updates on the Phase I process, and answers to frequently asked questions.

1.2.2 Cycle 11 Call for Proposals

The Call for Proposals discusses the policies and procedures for submitting a Phase I proposal for HST observing or Archival Research. It also provides a summary of the proposal process, from proposal submission to execution of the observations. The Call for Proposals is accessible from the Cycle 11 Announcement Web Page.

1.2.3 Instrument Handbooks

The Instrument Handbooks are the primary source of information for the HST instruments. You should consult them for any information that goes beyond what is presented in this Primer. Please use current versions when preparing your Phase I proposal. They are available for all instruments, including former instruments that may be of interest for Archival Research. The Handbooks are distributed electronically, and can be accessed from the Scientific Instruments Web Page. This page also provides links to more detailed technical information, such as that provided in Instrument Science Reports.

1.2.4 Exposure Time Calculators (ETCs)

STScI provides Exposure Time Calculators (ETCs) for each of the HST instruments. Please use these electronic tools to estimate how long you need to integrate to achieve the signal-to-noise ratio required for your project. They will also issue warnings about target count rates that exceed linearity and safety limits. The ETCs can be accessed from the Scientific Instruments Web Page.

1.2.5 The Visual Target Tuner (VTT)

STScI has released a software tool called the Visual Target Tuner (VTT). It displays HST apertures and fields of view that are superimposed on sky images. Detailed information about the VTT is accessible from the Cycle 11 Announcement Web Page. STScI welcomes all feedback on the VTT.

The VTT can be useful in Phase I proposal preparation to help answer questions such as: How many exposures will I need to mosaic my extended target? Which of my potential targets "fits best" in the aperture? Is there anything interesting I can observe with a coordinated parallel in another aperture? Do any of my potential targets have nearby bright objects that could spoil the observation? Is there an orientation which would avoid the bright object?

It is anticipated that starting in the Summer of 2001, the VTT will have an interface to the Starview software that provides access to the HST Data Archive (see Section 7.2). This will allow you to invoke the VTT from Starview to graphically represent Starview results on what areas of the sky have been previously been observed. Conversely it will allow you to invoke Starview from the VTT to show what observations have been made near a particular pointing.

1.2.6 HST Data Archive

The HST Data Archive contains all the data taken by HST. Completed HST observations, including both GO and GTO data, become available to the community for analysis upon expiration of their proprietary periods.

The Data Archive Web Page provides an overview of the Hubble Archive, as well as the procedures for accessing archival data (see also Section 7.2). A copy of the HST Data Archive is maintained at the Space Telescope - European Coordinating Facility (ST-ECF) in Garching, to which European requests should normally be addressed. The Canadian Astronomy Data Centre also maintains a copy of HST science data (only), and is the preferred source for Canadian astronomers.

1.2.7 Data Reduction and Calibration

The HST Data Handbook describes the data that are produced by the instruments; the ACS Data Handbook Primer will be available to support the Phase II submission. The Space Telescope Science Data Analysis Software (STSDAS) Web Page has links to the software that is used to calibrate and analyze HST data, and to documentation on its use. See Section 7.1 for details.