NSF's NOIRLab Call for Standard and Survey Proposals: Semester 2023B

This Call for Proposals 2023B (CfP23B) covers the observing time period from 1 August 2023 – 31 January 2024. 

Proposal Deadline: 31 March 2023 at 11:59 pm Mountain Standard Time (MST): note that this is a Friday evening in the US.

1. General Information on NSF's NOIRLab Observing Proposals 

Proposals for standard observing programs at all ground-based facilities coordinated by the NSF's NOIRLab, which include US time on the telescopes of Gemini, CTIO (including SMARTS and SOAR), and KPNO (WIYN), as well as community-access time with other observatories (which for 2023B include Magellan, CHARA, Keck, Las Cumbras Observatory (LCO), and MINERA-Australis), can be submitted twice per year.  Survey proposals will be accepted for this call if they have submitted a LoI for the available telescopes (SOAR and Blanco). For the 2023B semester, the deadline is:

Standard and Survey Programs: Deadline is 31 March 2023 at 11:59pm Mountain Standard Time (=Tucson time)  for the 1 August 2023 – 31 January 2024 observing period (2023B).

This Call is for Standard observing and Survey proposals.  More details about the process of submitting observing proposals to NOIRLab can be found at:

https://noirlab.edu/science/observing-noirlab/proposals/preparing-standard-proposal-instructions.pdf

This Call for Proposals document is focused on updates and news specific to semester 2023B.

 - Update: Dual Anonymous 2-stage Review

Semester 2023B continues the Dual Anonymous Review Process (DARP), which began last semester in 2022B, for all observing proposals submitted to NOIRLab (including Survey proposals and proposals submitted for time on the Gemini telescopes).  This process requires that certain text sections of observing proposals must be anonymous, with these anonymous sections being:

• Abstract
• Science Justification
• Experimental Design
• Technical Design

As well as Survey proposal sections

• Management Plan
• Release of Data

In the second stage of the process, additional non-anonymized information relevant to the proposal will be revealed to the review panel in order to obtain a final ranking.

Compliance with this policy is mandatory.  Proposers, please take sufficient time to prepare your anonymous manuscript, especially if you are going to resubmit a proposal from a previous semester.

Detailed anonymization instructions for PIs can be found at  https://noirlab.edu/science/observing-noirlab/proposals/anonymization-instructions.

A document of FAQ can also be found at https://noirlab.edu/science/observing-noirlab/proposals/faq.pdf.

A short summary of points on anonymizing are listed below:

1. Do not claim ownership of past work, e.g., "my previously funded work..." or "Our prior analysis demonstrates that…”

2. Do not include the names of the personnel associated with the proposal or their organizational affiliations. This includes but is not limited to, page headers, footers, diagrams, figures, or watermarks. This does not include references to past work, which should be included whenever relevant (see below). 

3. Referencing is an essential part of demonstrating knowledge of the field and progress. When citing references within the proposal, use third person neutral wording.  Do not refer to previous observing campaigns or other observatories in an identifying fashion. 

4. If it is important to cite exclusive access datasets, non-public software, unpublished data, or findings that have been presented in public before but are not cite-able, proposers must use language such as "obtained in private communication" or "from private consultation" when referring to such potentially identifying work.

5. Do not include any acknowledgments, or the source of any grant funding.

You can view recordings  of webinars that discuss the anonymization policy linked  from the anonymization information page https://noirlab.edu/science/observing-noirlab/proposals/anonymization-instructions .

- Update: COVID-19 and the Contreras Fire

COVID-19 may continue to affect operations at some observatories, as the situation continues to evolve and projections into 2023B (1 August - 31 January 2024) are uncertain.  Different observatory sites may have different COVID-19 protocols, so proposers should remain aware of the situation.

In addition, there are continued effects on Kitt Peak from the Contreras wildfire, such as road access to the summit, that may continue into 2023.

These situations will be monitored at NOIRLab and we will notify the community of any significant updates.

- Standard Proposals Requesting Long Term Status

NOIRLab will accept proposals for scientific programs that extend beyond a single semester. Long-term status may be granted to a proposal for which the principal science goal of the proposal cannot be achieved without the full allocation of time. An investigator who wishes to request long-term status should include a summary of the request (e.g., "six nights per semester for three semesters") in the appropriate section of the proposal form. Long-term status is limited to three semesters.

If long-term status is granted, a progress report must be submitted each subsequent semester to inform the TAC that appropriate progress is being made. Progress reports should briefly summarize the scientific justification, provide a detailed discussion of progress to date, restate the number of observing runs still needed to complete the project, and give details needed for scheduling the proposal in the next semester.

Although the granting of long-term status by the TAC does carry with it a commitment for observing time in future semesters, NOIRLab reserves the right to terminate long-term status on the advice of the TAC if insufficient information concerning the progress of the project has been supplied by the Principal Investigator or in the event of telescope closures.

- Survey Proposals

NOIRLab is issuing a Call for new survey proposals starting in the 2023B and 2024A semesters. Only those Investigators who have previously submitted a Letter of Intent (LoI) for the most recent LoI call are eligible to submit a Survey proposal for the 2023B semester. Survey proposals must follow NOIRLab anonymization guidelines. The deadline for full survey proposals is 31 March 2023 at 11:59 p.m. Mountain Standard Time.

- Questions

Questions concerning NOIRLab proposals can be directed to:

• Alfredo Zenteno, NSF's NOIRLab CSDC/TAC Program Head (alfredo.zenteno@noirlab.edu)
• also, please cc - Verne V. Smith (verne.smith@noirlab.edu) and Mia Hartman (mia.hartman@noirlab.edu)

2. Instructions for Submitting Semester 2023B Proposals

The 2023B Call for Proposals covers proposals for observing programs at all ground-based facilities on which the NSF NOIRLab manages open-access observing time.  Information about the newly launched NOIRLab proposal process can be found at:

https://time-allocation.noirlab.edu/#/  -  (Contact proposal-help@noirlab.edu if you have trouble during login, signup or proposal submission. **note** Proposal copying from semesters prior to 2022A is currently unavailable)

Instructions for preparing and submitting an NSF NOIRLAB standard proposal can be found at:

https://noirlab.edu/science/observing-noirlab/proposals/preparing-standard-proposal-instructions.pdf

An NSF NOIRLab proposal MUST be prepared and submitted via the web-based submission process, using the format as provided by a LaTeX or Word template. Please note that proposal copying from semesters prior to 2022A is currently unavailable, and manual transposition may be required.

Gemini Proposal Investigators who are applying for time on the Gemini telescopes must use Gemini Observatory's Phase I Tool (PIT) to prepare their observing proposals. The PIT is available from the Gemini Observatory at: 

http://software.gemini.edu/phase1/2023B/

Classical observers using US time  should be prepared to fund their own travel for their observing trips.  Contingent on the availability of funding, the NSF NOIRLab will support graduate students traveling for observations that are part of their PhD thesis work. To be eligible for NOIRLab funding for thesis observing, the thesis advisor must complete and submit the form found at:

https://time-allocation.noirlab.edu/#/proposal/thesis-form/

3. News and Updates for Semester 2023B

The following updates to instrumentation and or observing time at all facilities available through the NSF NOIRLab are noted here to alert investigators preparing proposals.

We note that this semester marks the beginning of open access nights to Magellan (see 3.2), while nights continue to be available on Keck (see 3.3), CHARA (see 3.5), and LCO (see 3.6).  The NN-EXPLORE (NASA-NSF Exoplanet Observational Research) program also continues on WIYN, the CT-1.5m/CHIRON, and MINERVA-Australis (see 3.4).  Another new opportunity is for joint JWST/Gemini proposals in conjunction with JWST Cycle 2 (see 3.12), while JWST  has been added to the NSF's NOIRLab - NASA Space Observatories collaboration (see 3.11).

3.05 DECam moving-object detection

NOIRLab routinely processes DECam data with the DECam Community Pipeline to generate science-ready images for PIs and archival researchers. As part of this processing, moving objects are flagged along with cosmic rays by comparing multiple exposures of the same pointing on the sky.

NOIRLab policy for reporting these moving-object detections to the Minor Planet Center is (a) to report detections of unknown near-Earth objects (NEOs) including potentially hazardous asteroids immediately, (b) to report other detections in non-proprietary data immediately, and (c) to report other detections in proprietary data after the expiration of the proprietary period.

For technical and scientific questions about this detection and reporting procedure, or to give permission to report non-NEO moving objects during the proprietary period, please contact frank.valdes@noirlab.edu. For questions about policy please contact adam.bolton@noirlab.edu dara.norman@noirlab.edu

 

3.1 Dual Anonymous Review Process (DARP) Continues in 2023B

As noted in Section 1 above, a Dual Anonymous Review Process (DARP) is now used for all observing proposals submitted to NOIRLab (including proposals submitted for time on the Gemini telescopes).  This process requires that the abstract, science justification, and experimental and technical design sections in all observing proposals must be anonymized.  In the second stage of the process, additional non-anonymized information relevant to the proposal will be revealed to the review panel in order to obtain a final ranking

 

Detailed anonymization instructions for PIs can be found at  https://noirlab.edu/science/observing-noirlab/proposals/anonymization-instructions , while a document of FAQ can also be found at

https://noirlab.edu/science/observing-noirlab/proposals/faq.pdf.

You can view recordings of webinars that discuss the anonymization policy linked from the anonymization information page https://noirlab.edu/science/observing-noirlab/proposals/anonymization-instructions

3.2 Magellan Observing Time in 2023B

Through the NSF's Mid-Scale Innovations Program (MSIP), observing time for the NOIRLab community is available on the Magellan I and II telescopes (Baade and Clay, respectively) beginning in semester 2023A  and continuing through 2028A.  The time available for 2023B is 5 nights.

General information about the telescopes and instruments can be found at:     https://obs.carnegiescience.edu/astronomers

The telescope and instrument combinations available in this Call are:

Baade (Magellan I)

- IMACS: a versatile wide-field imager and multi-object spectrograph  

- FourStar: a wide-field near-infrared camera

- FIRE: a moderate resolution near-infrared echelette spectrograph

- MagE: a moderate resolution optical echelette spectrograph

Clay (Magellan II)

- MIKE: a high-throughput double echelle spectrograph

- LDSS: a high-efficiency, wide field multislit spectrograph

3.3 Keck I and Keck II Observing Time Continues in 2023B

Through the NSF's Mid-Scale Innovations Program (MSIP), NOIRLab observing time on Keck I and Keck II will be available through semester 2025A.   In 2023B, 3 nights on Keck I and 2 nights on Keck II are available.

Note that all proposers for Keck time must submit a Proposal Cover Sheet Form to Keck (Yes, this means you).

The cover sheet can be found at   https://www2.keck.hawaii.edu/inst/PILogin/login.php .

You must have a Keck Observer account to submit this form to Keck; if you do not have an Observer account, you can create one on the above link.  If you have forgotten your login name and password, help is available at the login page.  From your Keck homepage you can view your upcoming telescope runs, view your previous semesters' coversheets, create or modify coversheets for the upcoming semester, view and modify your contact information and profile.  Additional information on proposing for Keck time can be found at https://www2.keck.hawaii.edu/observing/apply.html

Instrument availability, along with all relevant information, can be found at:

https://www2.keck.hawaii.edu/observing/instavail.html

Special Notes and Consideration for 2023B:

 Keck I Telescope: There will be a 10 night shutdown occurring in late April bright time in order to conduct repair work on the Keck I telescope pier. 

 Keck I Time Requests: We anticipate quarter night requests for KPF observations throughout the semester and encourage all other Keck I PIs to consider proposing for 0.75 time allocations if this is feasible for their target visibility.

KCWI:  KCWI, with the red channel upgrade, KCRM, will be available throughout the semester, with shared-risk status in the months of August and September. For more information on the red channel, please see https://www2.keck.hawaii.edu/inst/kcwi/configurations.html

KPF: Keck Planet Finder will be available for regular use throughout the semester. Documentation of KPF can be found at https://www2.keck.hawaii.edu/realpublic/inst/kpf/

 Keck I AO: Keck I AO (Osiris) may require periods of downtime in 23B to help facilitate KAPA work. Observing programs may be shifted into their acceptable observing periods to provide time for this work.

Keck II AO:  Keck II AO (Nirc2, Nirspao) will be unavailable from mid-August until late November to complete the upgrade to a real time controller. 

KCWI:  KCWI, with the red channel upgrade, KCRM, will be available throughout the semester, with shared-risk status in the months of August and September.  For more information on the red channel, please see https://www2.keck.hawaii.edu/inst/kcwi/configurations.html

DEIMOS: Deimos will require a 3 week period of downtime for mechanical work on the image rotator.  Observing programs may be shifted into their acceptable observing periods to provide a window for this work. Please note that the Deimos CCD5 is noisier than the rest of the CCDs in the detector mosaic. Please see https://www2.keck.hawaii.edu/inst/deimos/detector_issues.html for the latest status.

KPIC: KPIC will not be available in 23B.

NIRSPEC/NIRSPAO:  Please note that Nirspec and Nirspao nights may be scheduled in campaign mode to limit the number of reconfigs into AO during the semester.

NIRC2:

• The vortex coronagraph in LGS mode is not available.
• The vortex coronagraph with the PyWFS will only be available after the KII AO shutdown.

Please, see the NIRC2 manual (https://www2.keck.hawaii.edu/inst/nirc2/ObserversManual.html#Section5.2.2) for information about vortex operations.

At-Home (pajama mode) Observing:  At-home observing will continue to be available to observers.  Please see https://keckobservatory.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/MOSD/overview for information about remote observing, including at-home observing.

Twilight Cadence Observing: In 2023B, institutions will continue to be able to allocate one twilight observing program per telescope, for a total of up to two programs. On Keck I, OSIRIS-NGS (imager only) will be available, and on Keck II, NIRC2-NGS will be available. Please note that due to ongoing AO upgrades, there will be times in the semester when AO is unavailable for cadence observations (see above). Cadence program PIs are responsible for development of instrument scripts, providing documentation, and training of staff needed to make the cadence program a turnkey operation.

3.4 NN-EXPLORE in 2023B: Time Available on the WIYN 3.5m, the CTIO/SMARTS 1.5m with CHIRON, and MINERVA-Australis.  

The NASA-NSF Exoplanet Observational Research (NN-EXPLORE) program continues in semester 2023B.  Detailed information about NN-EXPLORE can be found at https://noirlab.edu/science/observing-noirlab/proposals/nn-explore/.

WIYN 3.5m

The NNEXPLORE program continues on the WIYN 3.5m, with 37 nights available for  exoplanet programs.  See more details about NN-EXPLORE on WIYN in Section 3.9.

CTIO/SMARTS 1.5m+CHIRON

NNEXPLORE offers observing time on the CTIO/SMARTS 1.5m with the precision radial-velocity spectrometer CHIRON, with 300 hours (equivalent to 30 nights of service observing) of observing time in 2023B.  See more details on the 1.5m/CHIRON in Section 3.8.

MINERVA-Australis

As part of the NNEXPLORE program, NASA is continuing in a partnership with the MINERVA-Australis consortium that began in 2020B.  That agreement continues in Semester 2023B, with 300 hours of observing time open to NNEXPLORE proposals.  MINERVA-Australis is a dedicated exoplanet observatory operated by the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) in Queensland, Australia. The facility is located at USQ's Mt. Kent Observatory, and saw first light in quarter two 2018; commissioning of the facility was completed in mid-2019.  MINERVA-Australis currently consists of 5 (0.7m) PlaneWave CDK700 telescopes; these telescopes have two ports, allowing each to be used for either spectroscopic or photometric observations.   A summary of the facility and its capabilities can be found in the commissioning paper by Addison et al. 2019

( https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2019PASP..131k5003A )

The photometric channel is capable of milli-magnitude precision and currently, the light from four telescopes can be combined onto one R=75,000 echelle spectrograph for radial velocity precisions of 1 -10 m/s depending on the target brightness and how many telescopes are combined.

- Note on Restrictions to MINERVA-Australis Call

NASA has made available to the US community 300 hours on the Minerva-Australis facility for the 2023B semester.  The time is intended for exoplanet research, primarily of TESS targets but other exoplanet science will be considered.  Proposed observing time will be allocated in hours and must include all science and calibration observations necessary to accomplish the science.  More information can be requested by contacting David Ciardi at NExScI (ciardi@ipac.caltech.edu) or Rob Wittenmyer at University of Southern Queensland (Rob.Wittenmyer@usq.edu.au).

As the MINERVA-Australis is a scientific consortium, there are a set of restrictions by which proposers must abide:

• The MINERVA-Australis has listed a set of “Collaboration Targets,” which are a set of  targets that the collaboration is observing (see https://drive.google.com/file/d/1M4ee7qRmhMoldLqbngZD7qXMOQSzZvhV/view?usp=sharing__;!!PvBDto6Hs4WbVuu7!bQiLiXo3BVwkHQbR0BcXUQQTSbPCmfGjwn_M_AxEcZRASVtWNWsoGnp5bhGUX7dS24dGjMrw$ ) “Collaboration Targets” can be proposed for observation through the NASA time if the proposal principal investigator forms a collaboration with the appropriate MINERVA-Australis collaboration or the proposer and the MINERVA-Australis collaboration member come to a mutual agreement regarding the proposed observations.

• Observations will be made, on behalf of the NASA observers, in queue-mode by the MINERVA-Australis team.

• The MINERVA-Australis team will deliver the proposer’s raw data, 1D extracted spectra, and radial velocities (if desired by the proposer).

• Data obtained for US community observers will be archived at NExScI –through the ExoFOP service.  Archived data will have the option to have a maximum 12 month proprietary period.

• Any publications arising from the utilization of NASA time on MINERVA-Australis are subject to the main MINERVA-Australis publication policy regarding the inclusion of the listed Architects and Builders [to be provided by the Collaboration] and must acknowledge the NN-EXPLORE Program.Note

3.5 CHARA 45 Nights Available in 2023B

The NOIRLab allocation of observing time on CHARA is 45 nights for 2023B.  The current instruments available are CLASSIC, CLIMB, PAVO, and MIRC-X/MYSTIC. 

VEGA has been decommissioned and it is expected that SPICA (its replacement) will only become available, at the earliest, in 2024A.

More information on CHARA and its instruments can be found at http://www.chara.gsu.edu .

3.6 Las Cumbres Observatory

As in recent semesters, NOIRLab time is available on both the 1m and 2m telescopes in the LCO global network.  In Semester 2023B, 1250 hours of time are available on the 1m telescopes and 200 hours on the 2m telescopes.  Proposer should pay particular attention to the following.

1. Proposals should avoid observations that compete directly with LCO Key Projects. The LCO Key Projects are multiyear, large coherent science programs.  They are the top science priority for the observatory. 

2. Requests for special observing modes -- Time Critical (TC) or Rapid Response (RR) -- must be explicitly justified in the proposal. All LCO proposals are technically reviewed to determine if the science requires TC or RR time.

3. LCO currently has different imaging instruments on the 2m telescopes in Hawaii and Australia. Hawaii has MuSCAT3, a multi-channel imager and Australia has SPECTRAL, a single channel imager. This has resulted in more demand for northern hemisphere 2m imaging time. No more than half of the available 2m time in 2023B can be allocated to MuSCAT3 imaging. LCO plans to replace SPECTRAL in Australia with MuSCAT4 to be available for semester 2024A.

The current LCO Key Projects run through semester 2023A. LCO issued a call for new Key Projects to begin in 2023B, and the selection process was recently completed.  For more information about LCO Key Projects check the LCO main website at https://lco.global.

More information on observing with LCO can be found at   https://lco.global/astronomers

3.7 Gemini North and South

The Gemini Observatory has released a Call for Proposals for 2023B at:

https://www.gemini.edu/observing/phase-i/standard-semester-program/2023b-call-proposals

The Gemini Call contains all of the information necessary to submit a Gemini proposal.  We suggest strongly that you also read the Gemini CfP if you are requesting Gemini or Subaru-exchange time to be aware of the latest news.

Proposers requesting Gemini time must use the Gemini Phase-I Tool (PIT):

https://software.gemini.edu/phase1/templates/2023B/

The Gemini Phase I Tool (PIT) will automatically add the time for the baseline partner calibrations to the total time requested for each target in the proposal.

Gemini-Subaru Exchange

Notes regarding Subaru facility and instrument availability in 23B:

- There will be 1-2 weeks of downtime (most likely in November and January) to replace the telescope chillers. The dates for downtime will be announced later.

- Repair work on TUE2 (Top-Unit-Exchange 2) is planned from October 11, 2023 to January 5, 2024. In this period, 1) only IR secondary mirror is available. 2) HSC and FOCAS are NOT available. 3) HDS observation is limited to V < 17 mag and WL > 3500 A.

- There will be at maximum two or three HSC observing runs in S23B (in August, September, and January). No HSC run is scheduled between October and December due to the Top Unit Exchanger overhaul.

- As usual, all proposals using PI-type instruments must include relevant instruments PIs. CHARIS, FastPDI, VAMPIRES, and MEC can be used together at the same time as the modules of SCExAO. For all information on available PI type instruments, see https://subarutelescope.org/Observing/Proposals/call.html

- LGS + AO188 will be operated with TBAD with a shared-risk policy in S23B.

Please be reminded that proposals requesting PI-type instruments/devices must include the relevant PIs as Co-I of the proposal (see https://www.naoj.org/Observing/Instruments/index.html).

• The following PI-type (visiting) instruments are available in S23B:
• CHARIS with SCExAO+AO188 (including spectro-polarimetric mode)
• Fast PDI with SCExAO+AO188 (in a shared-risk mode)
• IRD with AO188 (in a shared-risk mode)
• MEC with SCExAO+AO188 (in a shared-risk mode)
• REACH (combination of SCExAO and IRD for single-mode fiber spectroscopy)
• VAMPIRES with SCExAO+AO188
• NsIR Wave Plate Unit (a visiting device for IRCS/SCExAO polarimetry mode)

The new laser guide star (LGS) system can be used with IRD.
VAMPIRES cameras will be upgraded for improved sensitivity, speed and dynamic range. A new multi-band imaging mode will be available.
CHARIS, FastPDI, VAMPIRES, and MEC can be used together at the same time as the modules of SCExAO.

- REACH can be used simultaneously with CHARIS with any dispersion modes, but the wavelength coverage of CHARIS will be from 1850nm to the longest wavelengths (please check the CHARIS website).

- Instrument switching between IRD, REACH, CHARIS, VAMPIRES, Fast PDI, and MEC in one or half observation night for one observing proposal is possible. The required time for switching is,

• REACH <=> VAMPIRES: 0 (REACH can be used with VAMPIRES simultaneously)
• IRD <=> REACH: ~20 minutes (if the laser frequency comb is required for both IRD and REACH, otherwise 5 minutes)
• CHARIS, VAMPIRES, FastPDI and MEC can run simultaneously: See SCExAO webpage
• Other combination: <5 minutes

Note that IRD <=> REACH switching with laser frequency comb for both IRD and REACH is allowed up to twice per one night per one observing proposal.

3.8 Zwicky Transient Facility and ANTARES event brokering

The NSF MSIP-funded Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) is currently issuing public transient alerts.  ZTF-II is now doing a two-night cadence all-sky survey as its public survey.  More information can be found at:

https://ztf.caltech.edu/ .

For 2023B, the NSF NOIRLab encourages submission of proposals for “target-of-opportunity” (ToO) follow-up observing triggered by ZTF alerts. Proposals should plan to use the current ToO policies and mechanisms for the facilities allocated through the NSF NOIRLab TAC. More information about current ToO policies and procedures at available open-access facilities can be found here:

Gemini Target of Opportunity observing:

https://www.gemini.edu/observing/phase-i/too

CTIO Target of Opportunity observing:

http://www.ctio.noao.edu/noao/content/too-policy

SOAR Target of Opportunity observing

Las Cumbres Observatory scheduling (including ToO)

https://lco.global/observatory/scheduling/

The NSF NOIRLab is currently filtering ZTF alerts through the ANTARES event broker system (https://antares.noirlab.edu). For 2023B, ANTARES capabilities include positional and/or catalog-based filters with associated delta-magnitude thresholds, as well as more complex filters.  Proposers interested in employing these ANTARES capabilities within their programs during 2023B are encouraged to contact Dr. Tom Matheson (tom.matheson@noirlab.edu) in advance of the proposal deadline. Support for ANTARES science verification programs will be subject to availability of resources; depending on demand during this initial call, it is possible that only a subset of programs will be chosen for use with ANTARES.

3.9 KPNO

Mayall 4-m

The Mayall 4-m telescope is currently in the midst of survey observing with the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI). No time will be available through the NSF NOIRLab TAC.

WIYN 3.5m

Approximately 37 nights devoted to NN-EXPLORE programs will be available for NSF NOIRLab observing time in 2023B.  More details on the NN-EXPLORE Program on WIYN can be found at: https://noirlab.edu/science/observing-noirlab/proposals/nn-explore

Information specific to proposing for time using the precision radial-velocity spectrograph NEID can be found at:  https://www.wiyn.org/Instruments/wiynneid_call.html 

Open-access proposals, other than NNEXPLORE, can be submitted to WIYN, but these would only be scheduled if NNEXPLORE programs could not be scheduled for all of the NOIRLab WIYN time; in particular, proposals using only Hydra or ODI might have the best chance to be fit into time slots that could not fit into the NNEXPLORE schedule.

WIYN 0.9m

No new proposals are solicited in 2023B for the 0.9m with HDI.  We are working on re-opening as soon as possible and will issue a call for proposals at that time.

3.10 CTIO

Blanco 4m

Nights available in 2023B for new regular programs is approximately 100.

Instruments available: In 2023B, CTIO will be offering the Dark Energy Camera  (DECam) and the wide Field IR imager NEWFIRM.  The NEWFIRM instrument will be offered for shared risk SV programs during 23B via a special call to be issued in May/June.  

https://noirlab.edu/science/programs/ctio/instruments/Dark-Energy-Camera

https://noirlab.edu/science/programs/ctio/instruments/newfirm/instrument

Remote Observing: See the Information on equipment and software requirements and how to carry out remote observations at Blanco at: 

http://www.ctio.noao.edu/noao/content/Remote-Observing-Blanco

Note that we are waiving the requirement that all observers must have had previous observing experience at the telescope in order to carry out remote observations. However, we strongly encourage the involvement of experienced observers within your team in the planning and execution of your observations.

SOAR

It is expected that approximately 31 nights of NOIRLab time will be available on SOAR for 2023B.

The SOAR website is located at:

https://noirlab.edu/science/programs/ctio/telescopes/soar-telescope/about

SOAR AEON update -

TripleSpec4.1 can be requested in its most-used observing mode, which is a basic ABBA dither pattern suitable for point sources. The observing block will also include a nearby telluric standard and an optional arc. The instrument continues to be available in classical mode for observers who require more complex observations.

We continue to offer the Goodman spectrograph with both red and blue cameras, in several spectroscopic and imaging configurations.

For details, please see: https://noirlab.edu/science/observing-noirlab/observing-ctio/observing-soar/aeon

SOAR Target of Opportunity Update -

Detection of gravitational wave events is currently expected to resume in semester 2023A (O4). In contrast to the policy for the O3 campaign that ended in March 2020, we will treat approved GWE follow-up programs as standard ToO programs, governed by the current policy (https://noirlab.edu/science/observing-noirlab/observing-ctio/observing-soar/proposing-soar/targets-opportunity-overview). This policy has been revised since 2020, and should allow well-designed GWE follow-up programs to achieve their goals

As previously, if there are competing requests for follow-up of the same event on the same night, the first proposal to trigger will have priority but must promptly share the raw data with any other approved proposal team that requests it.

SMARTS (1.5m with CHIRON and 0.9m with CFCCD)

Time on the small telescopes at CTIO will be available to NSF NOIRLab users in 2023B.  The telescopes are operated by the SMARTS Consortium with up to 15% of time available to the NSF NOIRLab community.  The SMARTS web site is http://www.astro.gsu.edu/~thenry/SMARTS/.

The 1.5m + CHIRON (fiber-fed cross-dispersed echelle):

300 hours are available for the NNEXPLORE program, and assuming the facility remains open for all of 2023B, 97 hours will be available for scheduling by the NOIRLab TAC for non-NNEXPLORE programs.  For more information on the 1.5m, please contact Dr. Todd Henry at thenry@astro.gsu.edu.  Note that non-sidereal tracking is not supported with CHIRON spectroscopy at the 1.5m; the only option for non-sidereal targets is imaging via user time on the 0.9m.

The 0.9m + CFCCD:

The 0.9m can currently only be operated in user mode, so proposers should plan to travel for the observations, keeping in mind that there may be COVID-19-related restrictions or protocols.   We encourage applications for time on the understanding that it may not be possible to execute all, or any, of the successful proposals.  In the event that the site is open, up to 9 nights could be available for allocation by the NSF NOIRLab TAC.

For more information on the 0.9m, please contact Dr. Todd Henry at thenry@astro.gsu.edu. 

3.11 NOIRLab and NASA Space Observatories Observing Time

NSF's NOIRLab collaborates with NASA Space Observatories – the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), Chandra, and Fermi – to provide investigators with complementary ground-based observations in support of their programs. Investigators can obtain time on facilities available through NOIRLab through successful proposals for JWST, Fermi, HST, and Chandra programs. This collaboration allows proposers to avoid the double jeopardy inherent in having to pass through two separate TAC processes, and provides access to facilities essential to obtaining complementary ground-based O/IR data without regard to institutional affiliation. Time awarded through this process can be scheduled over two semesters to coincide with annual proposal cycles of space observatories. Classical observing time awarded and scheduled through this process will not be automatically extended or augmented to account for losses due to bad weather.

Currently this opportunity is subject to a limit of 5% of the available time on any given NOIRLab telescope (plus up to an additional 5% for joint JWST/Gemini proposals; see below), averaged over one year, for all proposals under this collaboration. The available time eligible for this opportunity currently includes all time available for standard (non-survey) proposals on the 4m Blanco telescope, the US share of time on the 4m SOAR telescope, and the US share of time for regular proposals on the twin 8m Gemini telescopes. Per NOIRLab time allocation policy, applications from astronomers and students who work at non-US institutions must indicate why the project cannot be done using other facilities available to the investigators and why US national facilities are needed.

Investigators are responsible for providing sufficient details about their ground-based observations as part of the proposal to the relevant space observatory. This information will be used by reviewers to judge the scientific merit and necessity of the ground-based observations to the overall science program, and by NOIRLab to review technical and scheduling feasibility. Please consult the appropriate space telescope call for proposals for instructions on where to enter this information.

Note for Gemini Time: Proposals that request observations with the Gemini telescopes must submit a separate Gemini proposal to NOIRLab using the Gemini PIT, to enable the observations to be entered into the Gemini queue system. Please see the special information below about joint JWST/Gemini proposals for 2023B and 2024A. 

4. General Information about Facilities Available through NOIRLab

4.1 Facilities List

Facility	Telescope	Approximate nights available for new standard 2023B programs	Additional Information
Gemini	8m Gemini North 8m Gemini South 8m Subaru (through time exchange)	66 49 ~3	https://www.gemini.edu/observing/phase-i/standard-semester-program/2023b-call-proposals
CTIO	4m Blanco	100	https://noirlab.edu/science/programs/ctio
SOAR	4.2m SOAR	31	https://noirlab.edu/science/programs/ctio/telescopes/soar-telescope/about
SMARTS	1.5m 0.9m	NN-EXPLORE 300 hrs + 180 hrs for regular programs  12	http://www.astro.gsu.edu/~thenry/SMARTS/
WIYN	3.5m WIYN 0.9m	37 (NNEXPLORE) 0	https://www.wiyn.org/
CHARA	6 x 1m aperture interferometer	45	http://www.chara.gsu.edu/public/instrumentation/
LCO	Global telescope network of 1m and 2m telescopes	1250 hrs (1m) 200 hrs (2m)	https://lco.global/astronomers/
Keck 1 Keck 2	10m 10m	3 2	https://www2.keck.hawaii.edu/observing/instavail.html
MINERVA-Australis	0.7m x 5	300 hrs	https://www.usq.edu.au/hes/school-of-mathematics-physics-and-computing/mt-kent-observatory
Magellan (Clay + Baade)	6.5m	5 (total)	https://obs.carnegiescience.edu/astronomers

 

4.2 Telescope and Instrument Lists (with Instrument Proposal Code and Web-link)

Gemini-North

GMOS-N: Gemini Optical Imager, Multi-Object Spectrograph and IFU

https://www.gemini.edu/sciops/instruments/gmos/ 

Note that the R600 grating is not available in 2023A.
The new B480 grating is available.

GNIRS: Gemini Near Infra-Red Spectrograph 

http://www.gemini.edu/sciops/instruments/gnirs/ 

As before, the short red camera is NOT available. YJHK imaging is available via the acquisition keyhole. A new low-resolution IFUs is being commissioned and will be offered for Fast Turnaround proposals only in semester 2023B.

GNIRS + Altair: Gemini Near Infra-Red Spectrograph with AO system (Altair).  

http://www.gemini.edu/sciops/instruments/altair/      

http://www.gemini.edu/sciops/instruments/gnirs/

NIFS: Near-IR IFU Spectrograph

https://www.gemini.edu/sciops/instruments/nifs/  

Gemini-South

Subaru (Gemini Exchange time)

Visiting Instruments on Subaru offered in 202 (limited to one or two runs).  Proposals to use visiting instruments must include the instrument PIs as Co-investigators.

CHARIS : Coronagraphic High Angular Resolution Imaging Spectrograph - provides high contrast images of exoplanets, disks, brown dwarfs with SCExAO+AO188.  https://scholar.princeton.edu/charis

Fast PDI : (in shared-risk mode): polarization differential imaging (PDI) with a high speed (>kHz) near-IR (950 - 1860 nm) low-noise camera (C-RED One), optimized for high contrast imaging of circumstellar disks with SCExAO+AO188. 

IRD - Infrared Doppler: (in shared-risk mode): infrared high-dispersion, high resolution (up to 70,000) fiber-fed spectrometer.  IRD SSP is started in 2019A – any IRD proposal must clarify how its scientific aim is different from SSP. The observing mode REACH (SCExAO+IRD), is available.

MEC (in shared-risk mode): the MKID Exoplanet Camera is a near-IR (800-1400nm) photon-counting low-resolution (R~5) integral field spectrograph optimized for high contrast imaging with SCExAO+AO188.

VAMPIRES : The Visible Aperture Masking Polarimetric Imager for Resolved Exoplanetary Strucutres is a visible light instrument on the SCExAO system.   https://www.naoj.org/Projects/SCEXAO/scexaoWEB/030openuse.web/040vampires.web/indexm.html    

NsIR Wave Plate Unit:  for IRCS/SCExAO polarimetry mode. 

Keck I        

HIRES            

LRIS               

MOSFIRE       

OSIRIS 

Keck II         

DEIMOS

ESI

KCWI

NIRES

NIRC2

https://www2.keck.hawaii.edu/inst/index.php

Magellan I (Baade)

IMACS: 

FIRE: http://web.mit.edu/~rsimcoe/www/FIRE/

MagE:

FourStar:

Magellan II (Clay)

MIKE:

LDSS:

https://obs.carnegiescience.edu/astronomers

CTIO 4m Blanco

SOAR 4m

WIYN 3.5m

CHARA

LCO-2m Global Network

MuSCAT3: Four-channel simultaneous imager              https://lco.global/observatory/instruments/muscat3/

LCO-1m Global Network

SMARTS 1.5m

SMARTS 0.9m

WIYN 0.9m

5. How to Acknowledge Use of NSF's NOIRLab Facilities

There are a variety of credit lines which are appropriate for citing the use of data from one or more of the NOIRLab facilities. Please acknowledge the proper observatories by using the appropriate credit line as described in the following link:

https://noirlab.edu/public/research/scientific-acknowledgments/