[ASA] Australian access to the Magellan telescopes

[International Telescopes Support Office]

   The AAO's International Telescopes Support Office (ITSO) and 
Astronomy Australia Limited (AAL) are pleased to announce that 
Australian access to the world-class 6.5 metre optical/IR Magellan 
telescopes in Chile will continue until Semester 2020B at the current 
level of 15 nights per year. The Magellan telescopes have been in great 
demand by Australian astronomers since access commenced in 2007 (average 
oversubscription of ~3), and we are therefore delighted to have secured 
the funding to exercise an option to extend access by a further three 
years. This is possible under an agreement between AAL and the Carnegie 
Institution for Science.

   AAL has secured the funding for these additional 45 nights from the 
Australian Government via the Department of Education and Training 
(under the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy) and 
the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science. AAL thanks the 
Australian Government for their continued support of astronomical 
research infrastructure.

   A reminder also that the deadline for Magellan proposals in Semester 
2017A is this Friday 7 October at 5pm AEST - 
https://www.aao.gov.au/itso/magellan/apply


Stuart Ryder, ITSO
Yeshe Fenner, AAL