[ASA] Call for Gemini, Subaru, and Magellan Proposals in Semester 2013B

Wed Mar 6 16:21:13 AEDT 2013

Proposals for Australian access to the Gemini and Subaru telescopes for 
Semester 2013B
(1 Aug 2013 - 31 Jan 2014) are due by *5:00pm AEST, Thursday 28 March 2013*.

(This deadline is earlier than usual to avoid problems arising over the Easter holiday
period.)

*
*Australian proposals for Magellan time in Semester 2013B (mid-Jul 2013 - mid-Jan 2014)
are due by*5:00pm AEST, Monday 8th April 2013*.

What's new for Semester 2013B?
------------------------------

/Gemini/

  * Two new visitor instruments are being offered to the community on
    Gemini North in 2013B. Please see the instrument web pages for more
    information on their capabilities and availability:
      o the Differential Speckle Survey Instrument (DSSI
        <http://www.gemini.edu/sciops/instruments/dssi-speckle-camera-north>),
        a dual-channel visual-wavelength camera giving simultaneous
        diffraction-limited images in two filters over a 2.8-5.6
        arcsecond field of view.
      o the Texas Echelon Cross Echelle Spectrograph (TEXES
        <http://www.gemini.edu/sciops/instruments/texes-north>), a high
        resolution (R~4,000 - 100,000) mid-infrared (5-25 micron)
        spectrometer.

  * The FLAMINGOS-2
    <http://www.gemini.edu/sciops/observing-gemini/2013b-call-proposals?q=node/10234>
    near-infrared imager and spectrograph is being offered on a
    shared-risk basis in imaging and long-slit modes only. MOS mode is
    not offered at this time. *Targets with RA 23h to 6h are
    particularly encouraged to cover a period when GMOS South may not be
    available.* The current delivered image quality with FLAMINGOS-2 in
    the lab is equivalent to IQ85 conditions, but further improvement is
    expected before the instrument returns to the telescope for
    re-commissioning in April 2013. Please check the FLAMINGOS-2 Status
    and Availability page
    <http://www.gemini.edu/sciops/observing-gemini/2013b-call-proposals?q=node/10351>
    for the latest information.
  * The RSAA-built Gemini South Adaptive Optics Imager (GSAOI
    <http://www.gemini.edu/sciops/instruments/gsaoi/?q=sciops/instruments/gsaoi>)
    on the Gemini Multi-Conjugate Adaptive Optics System (GeMS
    <http://www.gemini.edu/sciops/instruments/gems>) is being offered
    for up to 150 hrs (twice as much time as in 2013A) from September
    2013 onwards, limiting RAs to 19h - 11h and declination to -75 to
    +15 degrees. *Observations in IQ85 are possible and are encouraged
    for semester 2013B*, for programs that can use delivered images with
    full-width half-maximum ~0.2 arcseconds instead of the <= 0.1
    arcseconds delivered in IQ70 or IQ20 conditions.
  * During 2013B, Gemini Director's Discretionary Time will be allocated
    to use GSAOI to obtain non-proprietary data on two galaxy clusters
    <http://www.gemini.edu/sciops/observing-gemini/2013b-call-proposals?q=node/11950#HubbleFF>
    that are part of the Hubble Space Telescope Frontier Fields
    <http://www.stsci.edu/hst/campaigns/frontier-fields/> program.
    Investigators who require deeper or different observations of these
    fields are welcome to submit such proposals.
  * GMOS-South <http://www.gemini.edu/sciops/instruments/gmos-0> will
    likely not be available between October and November 2013, for an
    upgrade to the CCDs and other maintenance work. *The amount of time
    at RA 23h to 6h will therefore be limited*, and investigators should
    state in the technical case of their proposal if alternate targets
    are available. Investigators should assume the performance of the
    current EEV detectors for planning purposes.
  * Following successful trials last semester, Gemini has begun offering
    PIs of queue programs the opportunity to participate via remote
    eavesdropping
    <http://www.gemini.edu/sciops/observing-gemini/observing-modes/queue-mode/remote-eavesdropping>
    as their programs are being executed. PIs will be invited by the
    Gemini queue observer to connect via Skype and assist with complex
    acquisitions, monitor the quality of the incoming data, etc. and
    gain a better understanding of the Gemini observing process. Note
    that an observing night at Gemini South corresponds quite closely
    with working hours in Australia, and at Gemini North the night is
    generally over by 2am in the eastern states, so eavesdropping is
    relatively convenient for Australian users. PIs interested in taking
    advantage of remote eavesdropping should indicate this in their
    Technical Case.
  * There will be a guaranteed minimum of 5 nights on the Subaru
    telescope available to the Gemini community, following aluminising
    at the start of the semester.

/Magellan/

  * So as not to inadvertently preclude high-impact science that can be
    done in a short time, *the previous two-night minimum length on time
    requests has been reduced to half a night*. Scheduling proposals for
    a non-integer number of nights will still be subject to the Magellan
    Scheduler being able to identify programs from across the Magellan
    partnership that can make use of the remainder of the night(s).
    Applicants seeking less than 2 nights are encouraged to seek out and
    nominate other proposals (possibly with another Magellan partner) to
    share the observing time with.
  * A new CCD camera for LDSS3 on Magellan with much-improved red
    sensitivity <http://ausgo.aao.gov.au/LDSS3_presentation.pdf> is due
    to be commissioned in April 2013, and become the default detector
    for LDSS3 in 2013B, although programs focusing on bluer wavelengths
    will have the option to use the original CCD in certain blocks.
  * At this time we do not anticipate either of the two f/5 instruments
    (Megacam <http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/mmti/megacam.html> or MMIRS
    <http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/mmti/mmirs.html>) will be scheduled in
    Semester 2013B.

How to apply
------------

Gemini applications must be submitted using the 2013B release of the Phase I Tool (PIT) software. Subaru applications are also submitted using the PIT. For full details on instrument availability and application procedures, please see:

http://ausgo.aao.gov.au/cfp.html

as well as the official Gemini Observatory Call for Proposals:

http://www.gemini.edu/sciops/observing-gemini/2013b-call-proposals

Further information about Magellan instrumentation, travel funding, and the application procedure is described at:

http://ausgo.aao.gov.au/magellan.html

Need help?
----------

For general enquiries about Australian usage of Gemini, Magellan, or Subaru, please contact the Australian Gemini Office (ausgo at aao.gov.au). For technical queries about a Gemini Phase I proposal, please use the Gemini Helpdesk:

http://www.gemini.edu/sciops/helpdesk/

Stuart Ryder
Australian Gemini Scientist
ausgo at aao.gov.au

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