For Professional Research Using the NASA Allocation for Telescope Observing Time at the W.M. Keck Observatory NASA's proposal solicitation for observing semester 2011B (August 1, 2011 to January 31, 2012) is now closed.. Proposals for semester 2012A will be due Sept. 15, 2011 at 4 pm PDT. The 2012A solicitation will be posted approximately 4-6 weeks before this due date.

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

• 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 2011B
• 1) Decreased Number of Keck 1 Nights Available
• 2) PI and co-I Access to Other Keck Time in the Evaluation of NASA Keck Proposals
• 3) Mission Support Proposals Require Current Letters of Support
• 4) 18-Month Proprietary Period for HIRES, NIRSPEC and now, NIRC2 Data in Keck Observatory Archive
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
• 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 offered, L-band and ASTRA dual field modes offered in shared risk.
• 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