For Professional Research Using the NASA Allocation for Telescope Observing Time at the W.M. Keck Observatory NASA's proposal solicitation for observing semester 2011A (February 1, 2011 to July 31, 2011) is now closed. Proposals are due September 16, 2010 at 4 pm PDT.

General Information and Guidelines for applying for NASA Keck Telescope Time - Observing Semester 2011A

• NASA intends the use of the Keck telescopes to be highly strategic in support of on-going missions and/or high priority, long term science goals. Thus NASA Headquarters has opened up the NASA Keck call to a wider range of disciplines spanning from exoplanets and solar system topics to galactic and extragalactic topics. See the link above for more details.
• Frequently Asked Questions Page

Application Procedures for NASA Observing Time at the Keck Observatory

• The opportunity to propose as Principal Investigators for the NASA time on the Keck Telescopes is open to all U.S.-based astronomers. ("U.S.-based astronomers" have their principal affiliation at a U.S. institution.)


• Online proposal submission site


• Questions? email: KeckCFP@ipac.caltech.edu

Supporting Information

• The following documents provide additional information. The "new icon" () indicates that updates have been made since last semester.


• Significant Changes for 2011A
• 1) General Proposals for the Use of Keck to Observe Public Kepler Targets
• 2) Applying for Partial Nights
• 3) CoRoT Key Science Project Extended
• 4) Target of Opportunity (ToO) Policy
• Changes to 2010B Call Guidelines
• 1) Addition of Physics of the Cosmos science
• 2) Coordination with Other TACs
• 3) Use of Access to other Keck Time in Evaluation of the NASA Keck Proposals
• 4) Required Letters for Mission Support Proposals
• Note restricted Keck 1 time available during summer months. See here for more information.
• Remote Observing at Caltech now available!
• The WMKO Instrumentation Page discusses current instrumentation and capabilities as well as any new instrumentation available on a time-swap basis with Gemini-N, Gemini-S and Subaru.
• The Keck Interferometer Nuller is available on a fully operational basis.
• Keck Telescope Users Guide
• NASA Keck Users' Bibliography
• Keck Interferometry Bibliography
• NASA-Keck Successful Observing Proposals - since 1996B
• Visitor Instruments at the Keck Telescopes - CARA does not currently support visitor instruments.
• Service Observing - The Keck Interferometer is offered only in a service observing mode. CARA does not anticipate having service observing time available on other instruments in the near future.

The NASA Keck Time Solicitation Information web site is a source of information for professional researchers who wish to submit proposals for the NASA allocation of observing time at the W. M. Keck Observatory. For general public information, please visit the Keck Home Page.

Web Curator and NExScI Cognizant Official: Dawn Gelino