During the last week the observing schedule was replanned to include an observation of SAX J1808.4-3658 that was accepted as a Target of Opportunity on Nov 4. Planned observations of J0949+3213, NGC 4388, 3c16, SDSS J1227+6803, and 3c103 were impacted and will be rescheduled at a later date.

Chandra passed through the eighteenth and nineteenth (final) eclipses of the fall season on Nov 5 and 7 respectively, with nominal power and thermal performance. Real-time procedures were executed on Nov 7 to disable SCS-29 and to dump and clear the EPS glitch counters as post-eclipse season actions. An additional real-time procedure was executed on Nov 7 to patch the ACIS flight software. The new version (50, Standard E, Optional F) includes code that enables ACIS to provide the OBC with a warning of increased radiation levels. A future patch to the OBC flight software will incorporate this warning into our on-board radiation monitor. A real-time procedure was executed on Nov 10 to update the on-board ephemeris.

A Chandra image release was issued on Nov 10 describing observations of the Tarantula Nebula (30 Doradus), a large region where stars are forming. Found in the neighboring Large Magellanic Cloud, it is relatively close to Earth. Giant stars are producing intense radiation and powerful winds that blow off material. This produces superheated gas that Chandra sees in X-ray light. For details see: http://chandra.si.edu/photo/2011/30dor/

The schedule of targets for the next week is shown below and includes observations of GRB 111008A, which were accepted as a Target of Opportunity on Oct 17, and an observation of IC348 coordinated with Spitzer.