NOAO provides access to time on a large range of facilities, including its own telescopes at KPNO and CTIO, partnership telescopes such as WIYN, SOAR, and Gemini, and private telescopes through arrangements made as part of TSIP or ReSTAR. Proposals are solicited twice per year, with proposals due on the last Thursday in March (for semester Aug 1 – Jan 31) and September (for semester Feb 1 – July 31). For NOAO and partnership telescopes, NOAO staff support all aspects of the interface with proposers and observers, including assistance with proposals, support at the telescope, and support for data reduction. For private telescopes, NOAO staff support the proposal process and then facilitate a smooth handoff to observatory personnel.

Available Facilities

This page lists the facilities for which the current call for proposals applies. The call for proposals is typically made approximately one month before the deadline. Previous to that, the facilities listed are those from the previous call.

Current Telescopes/Instruments

This page provides an overview of all the capabilities available in the current (or previous) call for proposals.

Capabilities Search

This page provides tools for finding available telescope/instrument combinations that are capable of making desired observations. This may help a proposer understand all the options.

Proposal Information

Proposals for standard observing programs at all NOAO facilities, at partner facilities, and at private facilities that provide some open-access time through the NOAO time allocation process, can be submitted twice each year. Survey programs are accepted annually, and investigators must submit a letter of intent to propose in advance. All information about the proposal and time allocation process and policies, and the forms to submit a proposal can be found here.

Schedules

Schedules for current and upcoming (when available) semesters for all telescopes with observers allocated time through NOAO can be found here.

Observing Preparation

After receiving time through the NOAO time allocation process, you should check here on what preparations should be made for your observing run. In cases where the observations will be obtained for you, you must provide sufficient information to allow the observer to do this successfully.

Post-Observing Feedback

Sometime after your observing run, please fill out a short survey about your experience.

Financial Support

NOAO provides travel support for thesis students who are traveling to an observing run granted by the NOAO time allocation process. Support must be requested through the proper form at the time that the proposal is submitted.