NOAO >  Observing Information

Proposing for Observing Time

Proposals for standard observing programs at all NOAO nighttime facilities, including CTIO and KPNO, and for observing time on the Gemini Telescopes, on the 10-m Keck telescopes, the 6.5-m telescopes of the MMT and Magellan observatories and the Hobby-Eberly Telescope, can be submitted twice each year. Survey Programs are accepted annually each September, and investigators must submit a letter of intent to propose by 31 July.

• Proposal Form
• Proposal Information
• Proposal Queue Status
• Approved Programs for 2008A
• Approved Programs for 2008B

NOAO Telescope Schedules

The Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory and the Kitt Peak National Observatory telescopes are scheduled semi-annually; the new telescope schedules are posted in mid-June for the August - January period and in mid-December for the February - July period.

• CTIO Schedules
• KPNO Schedules
• Gemini Schedules
• Tonight's Scheduled Programs

Gateway to the US Observing System

• Telescopes in the US System
• Instruments Available in 2008B
• Developing the US Observing System
• Community Access Telescope Clearing House (CATCH)

Observing Run Preparation

The next step, after you have been allocated time on one or more of the NOAO telescopes, is to communicate with your staff contact about your observing run so that NOAO staff can prepare to support your needs. This way we can be sure the necessary steps are taken to help you have a successful run, and to avoid any problems or conflicts. These steps vary with each of the NOAO observatories. Checklists have been prepared for each of the observatories to assist you with your preparations.

• CTIO Checklist
• KPNO Checklist

NOAO is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), Inc. under cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation.

NOAO >  Observing Information

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