Changes to the NOAO Proposal Form and Process

With observing proposals for the MMT, HET, and Gemini not far away, we are modifying the NOAO proposal form and process to better accommodate these new facilities. We list here a summary of the major changes to the proposal form and process. Also see other articles in this section of the Newsletter.

• No more paper submissions. With this observing period NOAO officially announces that we will no longer accept paper submissions. This new policy should have "zero" impact since we have had no paper submissions in the past two semesters. Details about the submission processes are outlined in accompanying articles.

• One title, one proposal. A single observing proposal may now request up to six observing runs at any of the NOAO facilities. For example, a single proposal may include requests for time on the WIYN and the 4-m at Cerro Tololo.

• Web access to form. All proposals must be started through the NOAO Web-based proposal form available at http://www.noao.edu/noaoprop/. Specific fields on the general information, investigator information, and runs requested pages must be completed before a customized LaTeX template, based on the run information specified, will be returned to you by pressing the "Email LaTeX File" button on the form. This returned LaTeX template may be edited and submitted by e-mail, if that is the submission option you choose.

• Select proposal type. NOAO now supports two types of proposal forms - standard and survey. Although the forms are similar there are some differences so be sure to select the proper proposal type on the proposal form home page before beginning a new proposal - for most investigators this will be "standard." Select "survey" only if you submitted a letter of intent prior to 29 January.

• Science category selection. On the general information page investigators are asked to select a science category keyword that best matches their proposal (see the accompanying article in this section). The panel selection will be assigned automatically when the proposal is submitted.

• CoI information. We no longer require detailed address information for co-investigators - just full name, affiliation, e-mail address, and status.

• Run information expanded. Up to six observing runs may be specified with each proposal. For each run, up to twelve instrument configuration parameters may be specified. You are also asked to complete a technical description for each run describing the observations to be made during that run (this information was previously included in the experimental design section). Run information is still summarized on the front page of the printed copy but the expanded information is printed later in the form.

• Optimal/acceptable dates change. Each run can now have one range of optimal and one range of acceptable month ranges associated with it, e.g, Sep-Dec. We have expanded the "scheduling constraints and non-usable dates" line to four lines to accommodate additional comments that may be needed based on these range changes.

• Figure option enhanced. If you use the attachment option on the Web form for figures, you will notice that each figure and caption can now include one or two figure files - if two figure files are submitted for a figure they will be placed side-by-side - in LaTeX terms we are accepting "plottwo"s. An option is available for rotating each of the figures in a plottwo figure environment.

• Target tables move. Target tables are now tied to each run and will appear in the printed copy along with the run details. Target tables are required for all WIYN and YALO runs, but are optional for other instruments and telescopes.

• Spectroscopic ETC available. Investigators now have a spectroscopic and an imaging exposure time calculator to assist them in preparing proposals. See the accompanying article in this section.

• Instrument lists update. As always, investigators should check the telescope/instruments lists for any changes. Many of these will be documented in this Newsletter in either the CTIO or KPNO sections.

There are other minor changes to the form so please read all the documentation provided on the side-bar of the proposal form home page before preparing your proposal for 99B. If you have any questions about the proposal process or form please send e-mail to noaoprop-help@noao.edu.

The NOAO Proposal Team