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Observing Run Lengths: Ask for What You Want! (1Sep93)
(from KPNO, NOAO Newsletter No. 35, 1 September 1993)

How did your last observing run go? Lost nights to weather? Was the run
too short to accomplish what you really needed? We remind observers
that KPNO has long established guidelines for minimum run lengths on
all telescopes, which we really do want to follow! But the pressure on
the TAC to recommend scheduling as many programs as possible is great,
and we know that proposal writers also shave down the number of nights
requested to the absolute minimum to improve their chances of getting
time.  The result is that many, if not most, observers are unable to
complete their programs during the time scheduled and must apply for
additional time to finish their observations, further increasing the
pressure for telescope time.

We encourage all observers to request the number of nights they think
they will really need to complete their programs. If you ask for 3
nights, but really need 5 (the minimum run length on the 0.9-m, Coude
Feed, 1.3-m, and Burrell Schmidt), you will probably be scheduled for
3. If you need 5 nights, please do us (and yourself) a favor, and ask
for them.  If you need more than the minimum, ask! We do get requests
for, and even schedule, runs of 12 or more nights.

As a reminder, the guidelines for minimum run length are:

     4-m:                3 nights
     2.1-m:              4 nights
     1.3-m:              5 nights
     Coude‚ Feed:        5 nights
     0.9-m:              5 nights
     Burrell Schmidt:    5 nights

George Jacoby, Caty Pilachowski, Todd Boroson

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