The call for proposals for NASA Keck time in observing semester 2024B (August 1, 2024-January 31, 2025) is now open for professional research using the NASA allocation for telescope observing time at the W.M. Keck Observatory.
The opportunity to propose as a Principal Investigator (PI) for the NASA time on the Keck Telescopes is open to all U.S.-based astronomers, i.e. those with their principal affiliation at a U.S. institution.
Application Procedure
The NASA Keck TAC uses a Dual Anonymous Proposal Review (DAPR) process. Proposers prepare two documents: an anonymized Science Program and a non-anonymized Expertise and Access document.
Highlights for 2024B:
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Change in Dual Anonymous Proposal Review (DAPR):
NExScI staff are no longer checking each submitted proposal for DAPR compliance before TAC review. Instead, proposers
are asked if their proposal is DAPR compliant on the proposal submission page.
We suggest leaving time before the submission deadline to double check that your proposal is DAPR compliant.
If the TAC or a NExScI staff member finds a DAPR violation, the proposal is subject to rejection.
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Period of Exclusive Use for NASA Keck Data:
The default period of exclusive use for NASA Keck data is 12 months. Requests for extensions to this period
must be included in the appropriate section of the
Expertise and Access document
and meet one or more of the criteria in
Section V.
Extensions will be approved or denied by the NASA Keck selecting official.
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2024B Semester Notes and Considerations for Keck and Subaru Instruments
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Read the
2024B Keck instrument page
for complete information some of which is highlighted below.
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Keck Planet Finder (KPF):
will be unavailable for 4 weeks in November for installation of a thermal enclosure and mechanical cooling system.
Note that this time frame may be shifted somewhat as more information on delivery of these items becomes available.
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Keck II Pyramid WFS:
The Keck II Pyramid WFS is being retired in semester 24A and will no longer be offered for science use.
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Keck Planet Imager and Characterizer (KPIC):
KPIC is being offered as a facility instrument in semesters 24B-25B. However, KPIC availability is contingent upon successful
completion of an operations handover review to be conducted in June 2024. Proposals asking for time using KPIC must include a
backup NIRSPAO or NIRC2 program in the case that KPIC is not available. Documentation on KPIC can be downloaded
here.
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Keck II AO:
Keck II AO (Nirc2 and NIRSPAO) will be unavailable for 3-4 weeks in mid/late August to mid-September.
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NIRSPEC/NIRSPAO/ESI:
Please note that ESI, NIRSPEC, and NIRSPAO nights will be scheduled in campaign modes to limit the number of reconfigs into AO during the semester.
This may impact the ability to schedule certain date critical observations.
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NIRC2:
The vortex coronagraph in LGS mode is not available.
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SUBARU exchange:
The SUBARU-KECK exchange will continue as in previous semesters with the number of exchanged nights to be determined based on the demand from each community.
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Subaru will offer facility instruments Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC), HDS, IRCS, MOIRCS, and FOCAS, as well as visiting instruments IRD, CHARIS +
SCExAO, VAMPIRES, REACH, Fast PDI, MEC, and NsIR. Note that PIs must contact the instrument PI for visiting instruments in advance.
Subaru may support half night allocations, but whole night allocations are preferred. Queue observing is the default observing mode for HSC,
applicants who desire classical mode must justify their request. Please check the
HSC queue mode website
for more details.
Useful Links
(last updated February 27th, 2024 14:03:37)
