Call for Keck Observatory Proposals

Call for Keck Proposals

February 11, 2013

CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR UC KECK TELESCOPE TIME

Second Semester 2013: 13A (August 2013 through January 2014)

Proposals are due on Friday, March 8, 2013

Please see http://www.ucolick.org/keckobs/keckinstructions.html for instructions on using the on-line process. The application process will end promptly at 5:00 PM PST on March 8, 2013.

Proposals for 2014A will be due Thursday, September 12, 2013.

Keck is continuing the login-password system to allow you to retrieve and modify your coversheets. Returning observers should use the same account information as last semester. New observers may request an account from the login page.

We expect roughly 56 nights on Keck I and 54 nights on Keck II.

Please see the Instruments Available web page for detailed notes on the current instruments: http://www2.keck.hawaii.edu/observing/instavail.html.

Instruments available on Keck 1 are:

HIRESb (blue x-disperser)

HIRESr (red x-disperser)

LRIS-ADC (red and blue, with ADC)

LRISp-ADC (polarimeter, with ADC)

OSIRIS-NGS

OSIRIS-LGS

MOSFIRE

Instruments available on Keck 2 are:

DEIMOS

ESI

ESIi (ESI with the Integral Field Unit)

NIRSPEC (without AO)

NIRSPAO-NGS (NIRSPEC with Natural Guide Star AO)

NIRSPAO-LGS (NIRSPEC with Laser Guide Star AO)

NIRC2-NGS

NIRC2-LGS

Particular notes for this semester follow:

SUBARU exchange: The SUBARU-KECK exchange will continue much the same as for past semesters although WMKO hopes to be somewhat more flexible with regard to the number of nights available for exchange. The final number will be determined based on the demand from each community. Keck will offer DEIMOS, ESI, NIRSPEC, and NIRC2 on Keck-II and LRIS, OSIRIS, and MOSFIRE on Keck-I. Subaru will offer Suprime-Cam, FOCAS, HDS, MOIRCS, IRCS (with NGS/LGSAO188 elements), FMOS, and COMICS.

NIRSPEC Service Mission: NIRSPEC will not be available from August through mid-September with a possible extension of the service mission until mid-October.

Keck Observatory Archive: Data from all instruments will be archived in the Keck Observatory Archive (KOA). The default proprietary period for all data is 18 months. If observers desire a different proprietary period they may request this through the Keck coversheet. The KOA homepage has information about the archive and the KOA proprietary period policy.

Please read this paragraph: The principal consideration in evaluating proposals will be the scientific merit of the proposed project. Projects which take maximum advantage of the unique capability of the Keck Telescopes will be given high weight. A brief description should be given of backup programs that will be carried out if conditions are not suitable for the primary program.

The coversheet form is available through the Keck Observer Login webpage. Please attach your scientific justification.

Sincerely,

Sandra Faber, UCO Interim Director