Accepted Cycle 15 Observing Proposals

SOLAR SYSTEM

Proposal Number	Subject Category	PI Name	Type	Time (ks)	Title
15100276	SOLAR SYSTEM	Kraft	GO	160	Plasma in the Jovian magnetosphere: An X-ray and EUV study of the aurora and the Io plasma torus
15100583	SOLAR SYSTEM	Lisse	GO	86	Plumbing the Heights of the Solar Wind With Comet ISON
15100843	SOLAR SYSTEM	McNutt, Jr.	GO	35	Chandra Observations of Pluto's Escaping Atmosphere in Support of the New Horizons Mission

Subject Category: SOLAR SYSTEM

Proposal Number: 15100276

Title: Plasma in the Jovian magnetosphere: An X-ray and EUV study of the aurora and the Io plasma torus

Type: GO Total Time (ks): 160

PI Name: Ralph Kraft

Abstract: We propose 4x40 ks Chandra/HRC-I and 2x40 ks XMM-Newton observations of the Jovian aurora and Io plasma torus in conjunction with the Japanese SPRINT-A satellite. SPRINT-A will continuously observe Jupiter from Dec 2013 to Apr 2014, making sensitive EUV spectroscopic observations of the aurora and IPT. We will correlate variations in the X-ray flux from the aurora and IPT with changes in the EUV flux observed by SPRINT-A and with the properties of the solar wind. We will conclusively resolve the puzzle of the origin of the Jovian X-ray emission and determine if the precipitating particles originate from Io or from the solar wind.

Target Name	Det.	Grating	Exp. Time (ks)
Jupiter	HRC-I	None	40.0
Jupiter	HRC-I	None	40.0
Jupiter	HRC-I	None	40.0
Jupiter	HRC-I	None	40.0

Subject Category: SOLAR SYSTEM

Proposal Number: 15100583

Title: Plumbing the Heights of the Solar Wind With Comet ISON

Type: GO Total Time (ks): 86

PI Name: Carey Lisse

Abstract: Comet ISON offers us the first opportunity in the Chandra era to make a truly differential measurement using the same comet neutral gas source between the hot, dense, and slow solar equatorial wind and the mixed solar wind at mid-solar latitudes (produced in the transition region between the hot equatorial wind and the cold polar solar wind). This intensively active comet will be ensconced in the hot equatorial wind and viewable by Chandra until 08 Nov 2013, whence it comes too close to the Sun to be observed. ISON reappears, however, at even brighter apparent magnitude on 17 Dec 2013, at +25deg heliographic latitude, in the midst of the solar wind transition region, providing a rare combination of a well-studied bright comet detectable by Chandra at higher solar latitudes.

Target Name	Det.	Grating	Exp. Time (ks)
Comet C/2012 S1 (ISON)	ACIS-S	None	27.0
Comet C/2012 S1 (ISON)	HRC-I	None	9.0
Comet C/2012 S1 (ISON)	ACIS-S	None	40.0
Comet C/2012 S1 (ISON)	HRC-I	None	10.0

Subject Category: SOLAR SYSTEM

Proposal Number: 15100843

Title: Chandra Observations of Pluto's Escaping Atmosphere in Support of the New Horizons Mission

Type: GO Total Time (ks): 35

PI Name: Ralph McNutt, Jr.

Abstract: Current models of Pluto's extended N2+CH4 atmosphere are still very uncertain, causing numerous difficulties in optimizing the New Horizons fast flyby operations plan for the dwarf planet. Applying knowledge gained from studying cometary X-ray emission, Chandra ACIS-S photometric imaging of X-rays produced by CXE between the solar wind and Pluto's atmosphere will address both the run of atmospheric density and the interaction of the solar wind with the extended Plutonian atmosphere. Determining the atmosphere's extent and amount of free molecular escape will aid the atmospheric sounding measurements of the NH ALICE instrument, while determining the x-ray luminosity will help the NH PEPSI instrument characterize the solar wind particle environment.

R.A.	Dec.	Target Name	Det.	Grating	Exp. Time (ks)
		Pluto	HRC-I	None	35.0

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