<html xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)">
<style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0cm;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
@page WordSection1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style>
</head>
<body lang="EN-AU" link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style="word-wrap:break-word">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt">Dear Observer,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt">The 2.3m telescope at SSO will begin running in fully automatic mode in early March 2023. This will allow the telescope to carry out many types of science that would otherwise be impractical,
particularly large spectroscopic surveys and large follow-up programs for transients.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt">We are seeking proposals to try out the automated telescope during March and April. These will be shared-risk observations: there may well be unexpected problems and delays.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt">These shared-risk observations will be free to Australian majority proposals: the normal cap on open-access time will not apply during the commissioning period, though it will resume in May.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt">We expect to run the 2.3m in normal classical observing mode in February, and then in automated mode in March and April.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt">Proposals should be submitted using the normal 2.3m proposal system: Full instructions are available at
<a href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/DcfDC4QOPEiJMPOqoIOt_Jf?domain=rsaa.anu.edu.au">http://rsaa.anu.edu.au/observers/observing-rsaa</a> .<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt">In your science case, please state clearly if you want to apply for the classical time in February or the automated time in March-April. If applying for automated time, please explain carefully
in your science case how many targets you wish to observe, the time per target, and if they are target-of-opportunity observations. Also clearly state the minimum time that will be useful to you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt">The closing date 23:59 November 20, 2022. This call supersedes the previous call for proposals.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt">Paid proposals will still get priority, and are necessary for international proposals. Note that the price of a paid priority night has increased in 2023 to $1300 for Australian proposers and
remains $2000 for international proposers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt">*************************** PLEASE NOTE ***********************************<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt">The ANU 2.3-metre telescope at Siding Spring Observatory is scientifically productive and a valuable resource for student training and instrument development. These diverse and significant benefits
justify its continued operation for the foreseeable future. The full cost to the ANU Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics (RSAA) of operating the 2.3m telescope (including staff, maintenance, and repairs) corresponds to approximately $2000 per night.
To defray this cost, RSAA is offering priority on the 2.3m telescope to paying customers from Australia and elsewhere, while simultaneously ensuring a level of open access to astronomers at all Australian institutions.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt">60% of the telescope time in February will be allocated to paid priority proposals, which will need to contribute $1500 per night towards the running costs of the telescope. The remaining 40%
of the time is open-access and remains free. To be eligible to apply for open-access time, 50% or more of the proposers must be based at Australian institutions. The automated time is all open-access this quarter, but will be 60% paid and 40% open-access in
future.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt">In future years the price of a priority night will increase and the fraction of open-access nights will decrease. Full details can be found at
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt"><a href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/RIf5C5QPXJi05872vIOrbym?domain=rsaa.anu.edu.au">https://rsaa.anu.edu.au/observers/applying-time</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt">The latest information on using the telescope and its instruments can be found at
<a href="http://https:/rsaa.anu.edu.au/observers/observing-rsaa">http://https://rsaa.anu.edu.au/observers/observing-rsaa</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt">***************************************************************************<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt">If you have questions or technical problems in using the web-based submission process, please email tacinfo@mso.anu.edu.au.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt">Paul Francis<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt">Chair, ANU TAC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB">Prof. Paul Francis</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB">
(he/him)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB">ANU Distinguished Educator, Astrophysicist<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB">Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB">Physics Education Centre, Research School of Physics<br>
ANU College of Science<br>
Mt Stromlo Observatory and Building 160<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB">The Australian National University<br>
Canberra ACT 2600<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB">T +61 6125 2824 or +61 6125 8031<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB">Zoom Personal Meeting ID: 645-796-9990<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB"><a href="mailto:paul.francis@anu.edu.au"><span style="color:#0563C1">paul.francis@anu.edu.au</span></a><br>
<a href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/u6UEC71R2NTm4MKwqUNeCf2?domain=mso.anu.edu.au/"><span style="color:#0563C1">http://www.mso.anu.edu.au/~pfrancis/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB"><br>
CRICOS Provider #00120C </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB">| ABN:<b> </b>52 234 063 906</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">The Australian National University acknowledges, celebrates, and pays our respects to the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people of the Canberra
region and to all First Nations Australians on whose traditional lands we meet and work, and whose cultures are among the oldest continuing cultures in human history.</span></i><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>