ESO Phase 1 & 2 ProceduresGaitee Hussain

… or how to write an ESO proposal and get time!

Hopefully.

Phase 1: Basic facts

• Proposal Submission• Two semesters per year• Deadlines: end-Sept (Apr-Sept) &

end-March (Oct-Mar)

• Peer review process:• 4 panels: cosmology, galaxies & galactic

nuclei, ISM & star formation, and stars• OPC Rankings determine the time

allocation!

• s

Phase 1: Website

Phase 1: Preparing proposals

• Information about procedures, offered instruments & useful tips in theCall for Proposals!– Instrument handbooks– Feasibility considerations: ETC’s

Once you’ve selected the best instrument(s) for your programme……consult the Call for Proposals (again!) & ESOFORM User’s Manual BEFORE writing your proposal

Service Mode (SM)• Loose constraints*

– Are poorer observing conditions ok?

– Flexible scheduling• Short observing blocks• Standard calibrations*• Filler programmes• Targets must be defined

in advance

Phase 1: SM vs VM

Visitor Mode (VM)• Long-ish runs (0.5n+)• Complex/flexible strategy

e.g., depending on changes in observing conditions

• Non-standard settings• Special calibrations• Targets must be defined

in advance

(See M. Romaniello’s talk)

Phase 1: Proposal form

• Types of proposals:– Short, Large, Normal, GTO, TOO, Calibration

• Non-ESO country proposals: e.g., Opticon

• Joint Observatory proposals: XMM/VLT

Phase 1: Proposal form

• Preparing an ESO proposal Pierre Kervella, Paulo J.V. Garcia, 2007, New Astr. Reviews, Vol. 51, pp. 658-665

• On the writing of observing proposals Christoffel Waelkenshttp://www.eso.org/sci/observing/proposals/writing-op.html

Phase 1: Science Case

• Group A: “Highest scientific value” – Can be carried over if not sufficiently complete for “fulfillment

of the scientific goals”.

• Group B: “Lower scientific priority”– Executed only when no Group A programme can be executed. – No carryovers

• Group C: “Low Priority” – Relaxed constraints so can be executed when conditions not

suitabl for A or B propoals.– Generally would not get time in VM!

Phase 1: Rankings in SM

• Deadline• p2pp procedure

– Specify Observing Constraints• target coordinates; lunar phase; moon angular

separation; airmass;transparency• AO, APEX, VLTI

– Finding charts

• TIP: Try running p2pp tutorial for your instrument before submitting your phase 1 proposal (extra check on feasibility).

Phase 2: SM

• Target coordinates

• Lunar phase range

• Moon-to-object angular separation

• Airmass range

• Sky transparency

• AO, APEX, VLTI

Phase 2: Observing constraints

• As loose as possible WHILE still allowing you to do your science

• It is easier to loosen these rather than tighten these after approval– Apply for Phase 2 waiver if you need to

change constraints from those specified in Phase 1 proposal

• WELL BEFORE phase 2 deadline!

Lunar phase, Airmass range &

Transparency

• Target coordinates

• Lunar phase range

• Airmass range

• Sky transparency

Target position

• Prepare OBs in same way, but don’t need to check them into the system. Make sure you can access them when you go to the observatory

Good luck!

Phase 2 for Visitor Mode