Please see http://www.ucolick.org/keckobs/keckinstructions.html for instructions on using the new on-line process. The application process will end promptly at 5:00 P.M. on Friday, March 14, 2008.

Keck is continuing the login-password system instituted last semester to allow you to retrieve and modify your coversheets. This will also allow you to load coversheets from previous years. Returning observers should use the same account information as last semester. New observers may request an account from the login page. There is now a reminder option for you, if you have forgotten your password.

At the present time we expect roughly 112 nights total on Keck I and Keck II. The schedule for the period August 1 through January 31 (08B) will be ready around June 1. Proposals for 2009A and 2009B will be due September 12, 2008, and March 13, 2009, respectively.

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

Special notes for this semester follow:

Through an exchange with Gemini Observatory, we are again offering a few classically scheduled nights with MICHELLE, a mid-infrared (8-25 micron) imager and spectrometer and NIRI (non-AO mode only), a Near InfraRed Imager and low-resolution spectrograph, at Gemini North or with T-ReCS, the MICHELLE equivalent at Gemini South. See Gemini site: http://www.gemini.edu/sciops/instruments/instrumentIndex.html

We are offering, through an exchange with Subaru Observatory, a few nights with Suprime-Cam, a wide-field optical imager, or MOIRCS, an IR imager and multi-object spectrograph. See Subaru web site: http://www.subarutelescope.org/Observing/Instruments/index.html

NIRC on Keck I and NIRSPAO on Keck II will be available for one run this semester if the science requests warrant this. The exact timing of the runs will depend on the science requests. NIRSPAO nights may be either LGS or NGS science. Be specific if you wish to apply for these nights. All LGS proposals must include a backup program for the use when the laser is down.

LGS-AO: Approximately 23 nights of LGS-AO science will be supported if highly rated proposals warrant this. Appropriate backup programs must be specified along with your LGS proposals. Backup programs may be NGS or non-AO NIRSPEC.

Up to six nights of interferometer V^2 science and/or Nuller science will be available to the community. It is anticipated the interferometer will be available for visibility science runs during October and December. The Nuller may be requested during August, October, November, and January.

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. Included with this page are GUIDELINES on what should be contained in the proposal. Please read and follow these Guidelines. The page limits will be strictly enforced, and TAC members are not obligated to read beyond the stated limit.

The coversheet form is available through the Keck Observer Login page. Information from the coversheet will be gathered in a secure database at Keck Observatory to assist in telescope scheduling, support, and assignment. Please attach your scientific justification.

Sincerely,

Michael Bolte, Director
UCO/Lick Observatory

Call for Proposals

Proposal Guidelines

Cover Sheet Form

Telescope Schedules

Time Allocation Policy

LMAP Time Policy

ToO Time Policy

Instruments