===================================================================== ==> this proposal requests an upgrade from priority 3 for dengels.wasser ===================================================================== i propose to observe with a fabry-perot line scan one of the key transitions of the h2o molecule in the long-period variable oh/ir star oh 39.7+1.5, which is passing through its maximum in 1997 february. this key transition is connected to one of the 6(16) and 5(23) levels, which give rise to the prominent and well observed 22 ghz (1.3 cm) maser line. this observation is an upgrade of a current grade 3 observation allocated for the proposal wasser. this proposal was aimed to study the pump mechanism of the 22 ghz h2o maser. several transitions were planned to be measured in 4 prototype stars, and some of them during minimum and maximum of their light cycle. 21600s grade 6 and 14400s grade 3 time was allocated. the changes in lws04 performance and its late release reduced this program to a rather limited core. the strong h2o maser mira variable irc+10011 will be observed at a random phase, and the weak h2o maser star o cet (mira) during maximum. i propose to add oh 39.7+1.5 to this list, because this stars is the only oh/ir star in this proposal (and the only one in similar proposals), and therefore probes another (much higher) mass loss regime, because we have a continuous 22 ghz h2o maser lightcurve of this star since 1990 including four vla maps, and because the star is passing through its maximum during next year. these observations and similar ones from other proposals will be used in connection with an ongoing 22 ghz monitoring program to study the role of the pump mechanism.
Instrument
LWS02 , LWS04
Temporal Coverage
1997-03-20T05:15:28Z/1997-03-20T10:12:25Z
Version
1.0
Mission Description
The Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) was the worlds first true orbiting infrared observatory. Equipped with four highly-sophisticated and versatile scientific instruments, it was launched by Ariane in November 1995 and provided astronomers world-wide with a facility of unprecedented sensitivity and capabilities for a detailed exploration of the Universe at infrared wavelengths.
