Fundación Galileo Galilei - INAF Telescopio Nazionale Galileo 28°45'14.4N 17°53'20.6W 2387.2m A.S.L.


CALL FOR PROPOSAL TNG & REM
also featuring VLP and GTVI

AOT 22 (2010B)  is now open for proposals
Applications for observing time for the period

 August  1st,  2010  - January 31st, 2011

are solicited and should be submitted by

Friday 16th Apr, 2010, 13:00 UT


TNG is a 3.58m optical/infrared telescope located at Roque de Los Muchachos Observatory in the island of La Palma (Canary Island). Its primary mirror is corrected by Active Optics and it is equipped with 3 instruments which offer imaging and spectroscopy, spanning the optical and near infrared wavelengths range.

REM is a 60 cm robotic telescope located at La Silla ESO site (Chile) which can observe simultaneously with a visible and an infrared camera. The observations will be carried out in unmanned, queuing mode.
Visit http://www.rem.inaf.it


  ***  VLP   Very Large Programs ***

Please note that for TNG a _new_ class of proposal can be submitted, starting with AOT21. These VLPs (Very Large Programs) can be awarded up to 30 nights per semester, for an initial set of two semesters. INAF will contribute to the best, approved VLP with an additional grant up to 50000 euro covering VLP one year of contract for one person and expenses for observations and data reduction which the appointed person shall carry out at the TNG in la Palma.
This person will have as duty station one of the INAF institutions and shall pass a selection procedure (assegno di ricerca). The PI of the proposal shall act as supervisor. When filling in the proposal, special care must be taken in describing the management of the project, the foreseen time schedule and the tasks of the participants, with special emphasis on the fellow's role.


  *** GTVI Guaranteed Time for Visiting Instruments   ***

With this AOT22 TNG starts its program for visiting instruments. A visiting instrument proposal is intended to carry out either
GTVIa specific scientific study which need a special instrument, provided by the observer, or a technological demonstration of a new technique or device. Or both.
For this semester TNG allocates 14 nights as guaranteed for this pilot programme. All proposal shall be sent via the same system as all other proposal and will be evaluated both for their scientific value and their technological content. The final time allocation will be noticed by the TNG Director.
A V1.0 of the interface specification for the guest instrument can be found at the link http://www.tng.iac.es/docs/TEC/Visiting_Instrument.pdf
Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to contact TNG staff.



***  NO MORE CASH ADVANCE   ***

Starting March 2010 it will be no more necessary for INAF paid visitors to pay in advance hotels (bed&breakfast), taxi, food and lodging at the Residencia. Follow the instructions and just sign when using a TNG offered service. Additional and non-INAF observers continue to pay directly.


***  TNG MANUALS   ***

A new series of _manuals_ for TNG instrumentation is available on line.
See the OBSERVING page on TNG menu.


Application forms and detailed instructions can be downloaded from
the TNG web pages ( http://www.tng.iac.es/submit.html ).

The INAF time allocation committee welcomes proposals from foreign researchers/institutes which, alike all other proposals, will be judged strictly on their scientific merit.




ADDITIONAL NOTES


* Please note that, starting 1st April 2009, TNG astronomer support is
  provided until 1 am of the first night only of all visitor runs.
 
* We remind that all data distribution for REM and TNG is via INAF
  databases, in Bologna and Trieste.
 
Please refer to TNG web site for ToO policy and observers rules.