NOAO >   Observing Info >   Proposals >   Surveys

NOAO Survey Programs

NOAO offers the opportunity to conduct major survey programs on telescopes at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory, the Kitt Peak National Observatory, and the MMT Observatory. (We currently do not allow Survey proposals for Gemini, Keck, or Magellan telescopes.) Up to 20% of the observing time available through NOAO may be allocated to Survey Programs. Proposals that make use of facilities in both northern and southern hemispheres are particularly encouraged.

A total of twenty-two Survey Programs have been approved since 1999. A list of approved Survey Programs is available.

What is a Survey Program?

A Survey Program is a significant observational program which:

• addresses novel, well-focused scientific goals;
• enables scientific programs requiring large, statistically complete, and homogeneous data;
• provides a basis for planning more detailed follow-up studies;
• enables extensive archival research; and
• represents a significant enhancement over existing surveys.

Successful programs are expected to be completed in 3 years or less. Data must be processed with a well-tested and well-documented pipeline, must be archived in a convenient format, and must be made publicly available no longer than one year after the first images are pipeline processed.

How to Propose a Survey Program

Letters of Intent to propose an NOAO Survey Program must be received by email to surveys@noao.edu no later than 31 July. Letters should include the broad scientific goals of the program, the membership of the survey team, the telescope(s) and instrument(s) to be requested, the approximate amount of telescope time to be requested, and the duration of the proposed survey.

The Letters of Intent will serve two purposes. First, they will allow us to plan our evaluation process based on the number and content of potential proposals. This includes selection of an evaluation committee with appropriate expertise and minimal conflict of interest. Second, the description of the proposed survey will be reviewed to ensure that the program fits the adopted definition of a survey. Please keep these purposes in mind when composing a Letter of Intent and provide as much relevant information as possible.

Proposals for NOAO Survey Programs will be accepted annually on September 15. Proposers may obtain detailed proposal information and forms at http://www.noao.edu/noaoprop/noaoprop.html. Proposal materials are typically updated about one month before each deadline.

Proposals should include:

• a discussion of the primary scientific goals of the survey;
• the relationship to and advances over existing or ongoing surveys;
• additional potential uses of survey data;
• a description of the experimental design, including sample selection, instrumentation, scheduling requirements, calibration, etc.;
• a statement of how and when the data will be made publicly available;
• a table of telescopes, instruments, number of nights, and lunar phase requested for each semester during which the survey is carried out; and
• a survey management plan including a discussion of data reductions, archiving, and staffing to carry out the program.

Survey investigators who wish their programs to be considered for one-semester allocations in the event that their Survey proposal is declined should also submit a regular proposal to be considered by the TAC (Survey proposals are reviewed by a special Survey TAC). Investigators should note on the regular proposal that the program has also been submitted as a Survey Program, and that time should not be awarded to the regular program if the Survey is approved.

Additional Requirements for Survey Programs

A Workshop will be held in Tucson for all approved programs each year. Survey teams awarded time will be expected to meet with one another and with NOAO or other staff, as appropriate.

Progress Reports must also be submitted to the Survey TAC annually. The Survey TAC will review all progress reports and may recommend changes in the allocations to previously approved programs. Proposers will have the opportunity to appeal any changes recommended by the Survey TAC.

For further information concerning community input and planning for survey programs, please review the Final Report of the Survey Working Group and a summary of the Implementation Plan for the NOAO Survey Program.

NOAO is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), Inc. under cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation. Last updated: Jun 3 2008

NOAO >   Observing Info >   Proposals >   Surveys

webmaster@noao.edu