1. ESO Phase 1 & 2 Procedures Gaitee Hussain
… or how to write an ESO proposal and get time!
Hopefully.

2. Phase 1: Basic facts Proposal Submission Peer review process:
Two semesters per year
Deadlines: end-Sept (Apr-Sept) & end-March (Oct-Mar)
Peer review process:
4 panels: cosmology, galaxies & galactic nuclei, ISM & star formation, and stars
OPC Rankings determine the time allocation!

3. Phase 1: Website s

4. Phase 1: Preparing proposals
Information about procedures, offered instruments & useful tips in the Call for Proposals!
Instrument handbooks
Feasibility considerations: ETC’s
Once you’ve selected the best instrument(s) for your programme…
…consult the Call for Proposals (again!) & ESOFORM User’s Manual BEFORE writing your proposal

5. Phase 1: SM vs VM Service Mode (SM) Loose constraints*
Are poorer observing conditions ok?
Flexible scheduling
Short observing blocks
Standard calibrations*
Filler programmes
Targets must be defined in advance
Visitor Mode (VM)
Long-ish runs (0.5n+)
Complex/flexible strategy e.g., depending on changes in observing conditions
Non-standard settings
Special calibrations
Targets must be defined in advance
(See M. Romaniello’s talk)

6. Phase 1: Proposal form

7. Phase 1: Proposal form Types of proposals:
Short, Large, Normal, GTO, TOO, Calibration
Non-ESO country proposals: e.g., Opticon
Joint Observatory proposals: XMM/VLT

8. Phase 1: Science Case
Preparing an ESO proposal Pierre Kervella, Paulo J.V. Garcia, 2007, New Astr. Reviews, Vol. 51, pp
On the writing of observing proposals Christoffel Waelkens

9. Phase 1: Rankings in SM Group A: “Highest scientific value”
Can be carried over if not sufficiently complete for “fulfillment of the scientific goals”.
Group B: “Lower scientific priority”
Executed only when no Group A programme can be executed.
No carryovers
Group C: “Low Priority”
Relaxed constraints so can be executed when conditions not suitabl for A or B propoals.
Generally would not get time in VM!

10. Phase 2: SM Deadline p2pp procedure
Specify Observing Constraints
target coordinates; lunar phase; moon angular separation; airmass;transparency
AO, APEX, VLTI
Finding charts
TIP: Try running p2pp tutorial for your instrument before submitting your phase 1 proposal (extra check on feasibility).

11. Phase 2: Observing constraints
Target coordinates
Lunar phase range
Moon-to-object angular separation
Airmass range
Sky transparency
AO, APEX, VLTI

12. Lunar phase, Airmass range & Transparency
As loose as possible WHILE still allowing you to do your science
It is easier to loosen these rather than tighten these after approval
Apply for Phase 2 waiver if you need to change constraints from those specified in Phase 1 proposal
WELL BEFORE phase 2 deadline!

13. Target position Target coordinates Lunar phase range Airmass range
Sky transparency

14. Phase 2 for Visitor Mode Good luck!
Prepare OBs in same way, but don’t need to check them into the system. Make sure you can access them when you go to the observatory
Good luck!