2. WIYN Observing Program Application Instructions Applying for WIYN observing time requires submitting a regular NOAO observing proposal form with completed Target Tables giving the observing details of your program. These forms can be acquired in the following ways: Application Forms Locations Type Location Instructions WWW http://www.noao.edu/noaoprop/ . Anonymous FTPftp.noao.edu cd noaoprop E-mail kpnoprop-request@noao.edu send e-mail to this address Paper NOAO SCience OPErations Division Call (520) 318-8379 The proposal forms are designed to be processed by LaTeX macros. Briefly, the proposal form consists of a series of keywords followed by fields in which you fill in the information. After editing this information into the form, you may produce a hardcopy by running it through LaTeX and sending it to your laser printer. Proposers will be told how to submit MOS/Hydra configuration data after the proposal review process is completed. Further instructions about submitting NOAO observing proposals are available via anonymous FTP (ftp.noao.edu (cd noaoprop; get README)) or on-line (http://www.noao.edu/noaoprop/). Questions about the application process should be directed to the NOAO SCience OPEerations Director's office (noao@noao.edu). 2.1. Important Notes for the NOAO Proposal Form 1. If you are applying for Long Program observations, specify "WIYN" as the telescope. 2. If you are applying for Short Program observations, specify "WIYN---2hr" as the telescope. 3. Short Program scientific justifications should be kept a half page or less. 2.2. Important Notes for the WIYN Target Tables Please remember that we need enough information to evaluate your program fairly during the TAC process. But also keep in mind that if you are allocated queue time, you will get the chance to revise your WIYN queue observing form, giving more information if necessary. So be as brief as possible without selling your program short. Explicit and detailed instructions on how to execute your program are not needed initially. Programs which adhere to the published Imager, MOS/Hydra, and DensePak default operation and calibration procedures do not have to provide additional commentary in the Technical and Scientific Feasibility section of the proposal. However, if your proposed program requires significantly different observing procedures, please explain why in the Technical and Scientific Feasibility section. Please review the observing overheads page for further information. If your program requires a specific set of objects, you must clearly justify this in the Science Justification section of the main proposal form. For example, you may need to observe M15 to test your hypothesis, and no other globular cluster will do. However, if you are awarded time in the queue but with relatively low grade, your objects may set before we make enough progress on higher ranked programs to schedule your program. On the other hand, many programs do not require specific objects but want to observe a representative set. For example, you would like to observe four Abell clusters but it doesn't matter which four clusters are observed. An example fictional sample (e.g. "Cluster A, Cluster B, Cluster C, etc.") complete with typical instrument configuration information (filters, gratings, required exposure times, number of exposures, etc.) must be specified in the Target Tables. You should state clearly in the Scientific Justification and/or the Technical and Scientific sections of the main NOAO proposal form why your sample needs to be the size you propose. If you are allocated queue observing time, you will be asked to submit your real sample when (and if) your program is scheduled. However, if your mid-semester object selection conflicts with objects and instrument configurations in a different program specifically reviewed by the TAC, you will be asked to select a different target or justify why we should repeat the observation. Also, your revised program will have to fit within the amount of time you are allocated. Note that some sample flexibility will increase the probability that a programs with lower TAC grades will be executed since they must be scheduled around programs with higher grades. All revised WIYN Target Tables submitted after WIYN observing time is allocated are subject to review and approval of the KPNO Director. A note to Hydra proposers: you do not have to specify the celestial coordinates of every object in every configuration in your Target Tables. You merely have to tell us the approximate celestial coordinates of the field centers of each proposed configuration. It is important that in the Technical and Scientific Feasibility section of the proposal that you specify a PER EXPOSURE data quality figure-of-merit, i.e. a quantitative measure of whether an individual exposure has met your technical goal. Example figures-of-merit include: * S/N per pixel at a specified wavelength * how well two lines were split at a given wavelength * number of detections above sky per configuration Your figure-of-merit could be some combination of these examples or something else entirely. Please be specific. MOS/Hydra and DensePak twilight sky observations are important for radial velocity calibration and potentially for other programs. If your MOS/Hydra or DensePak program requires that twilight sky observations through all fibers be obtained at dusk and/or dawn for calibration purposes, you should request and justify these observations in the Technical and Scientific Feasibility section of the proposal. We will NOT automatically observe spectrophotometric and radial velocity standards for MOS/Hydra and DensePak programs. You should note that you will require standards in the Technical and Scientifiic Feasibility section of the proposal and include an overhead estimate for each such observation in your time request. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Back to the WIYN Observatory Home Page Back to the WIYN Observing Program Home Page ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated: 8/1/97, psmith@noao.edu