During the next two years, NOAO will offer access to several new research facilities available to the community. Beginning in 1999 and continuing for six years, NOAO will allocate 27 nights per year on the Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET) and 24 nights per year on the Multiple Mirror Telescope (MMT) through peer review. Observations on the HET will be made in queue mode as part of the HET Queue Program. Time on the MMT will be scheduled classically.
Observing time on the new Gemini telescopes will become available in 2000 for Gemini North and in 2001 for Gemini South. Half of the time on the Gemini telescopes will be scheduled in queue mode, and half will be scheduled classically.
Proposals for time on these new facilities will be accepted through the normal NOAO proposal process, with the same deadlines as for CTIO and KPNO proposals. We expect to accept proposals for time on new facilities according to the following timeline:
HET and MMT: March 1999
Gemini North: September 1999
Gemini South: September 2000
Todd Boroson