Call for Proposals for the
NASA Infrared Telescope Facility

DEADLINE: Monday 03 October 2011

Use ONLINE application form

NASA Infrared Telescope Facility Observing Proposals

Due date for the 2012A semester (February 1, 2012 to July 31, 2012) is Monday, October 3, 2011. See our online submission form. Available instruments include: (1) SpeX, a 1-5 micron cross-dispersed medium-resolution spectrograph (up to R=2,500); (2) CSHELL, a 1-5 micron high-resolution spectrograph (up to R=40,000); (3) MIRSI, a 8 to 25 micron camera and low-resolution spectrometer (R=100 to 200), (4) NSFCAM2, a 2048X2048 pixel, 1-5 micron camera with a 0.04"/pixel scale (82"x82" field-of-view) and a circular variable filter; (5) MORIS, a 512x512 pixel Andor CCD camera mounted at the side-facing, dichroic-fed window of the SpeX cryostat (60"x60" field-of-view), MORIS can be used simultaneously with SpeX, and (6) PI-instruments including a low-resolution 3-14 micron spectrograph and high-resolution spectrographs for 8-25 microns. Information on available instruments can be found at: http://irtfweb.ifa.hawaii.edu/Facility/.

Important notice: Due to delays in the array controller development, we are planning to take NSFCAM2 off line on Feb. 1, 2012, to install a new infrared array. We expect it to be available starting in semester 2012B (Aug. 1, 2012 - Jan. 31, 2013). Due to the schedule uncertainties, proposals to use NSFCAM2 will be accepted provided the program can be also accomplished with the SpeX slit viewer which has 0.12"/pixel and a 60"x60" field-of-view.

Important notice: We anticipate that SpeX will be taken off line on Feb. 1, 2013, and will be unavailable for then entire 2013A semester (Feb. 1, 2013 - July 31, 2013). This is necessary to upgrade SpeX with new arrays and array controllers. The delay of one semester in SpeX downtime has become necessary to build and test the new array controller. We strongly recommend observers to plan their observing accordingly. We also expect to accommodate key projects requiring large amounts of observing time using CSHELL, NSFCAM2, MIRSI, and visitor instruments.

Collaborative PI/Facility Instrument: MIRSI (8-25 micron camera and grism spectrometer; contact James Jackson at jackson@bu.edu, or Bobby Bus at schelte@hawaii.edu). MIRSI proposers are encouraged, but not required, to collaborate with the MIRSI team.

Visitor instruments (available on a collaborative basis with the instrument team) include: TEXES (5-20 micron high-resolution spectrograph; contact Matt Richter at richter@physics.ucdavis.edu for more information), BASS (3-14 micron spectrometer; contact David Lynch at david.k.lynch@aero.org), CELESTE (5-25 micron echelle spectrometer; contact Don Jennings at donald.e.jennings@nasa.gov), HIPWAC (9-12 micron heterodyne spectrometer; contact Ted Kostiuk at theodor.kostiuk-1@nasa.gov).

Remote observing is available with SpeX, NSFCAM2, CSHELL, MORIS and MIRSI. Important Notice: Remote observing requests must be made in the proposal application - later requests will be considered if requested at least ONE MONTH ahead of time. If you wish to observe from your home institution, you MUST comply with the requirements for video conferencing and instrument operation provided on the Remote Observers Information page. First-time users should plan to work in Manoa, Hilo or at the summit for their first run with their support astronomer and become familiar with the instrument operation. Observers already familiar with the instrument and who want to observe remotely from their home institution are strongly encouraged to contact Miranda Hawarden-Ogata (hawarden@ifa.hawaii.edu) to set up a test of the video link and user interface at least one month prior to their observing run. We cannot guarantee a successful remote observing connection on short notice since we have no control of hardware and software compatibility on the user's side. It is the responsibility of the PI to provide up to date observing contact information.

To keep our bibliography up to date, and to insure future funding of IRTF instruments, we ask that you send us your latest publications or update your publications list using our website Bibliography page for refereed and unrefereed papers;

http://irtfweb.ifa.hawaii.edu/research/biblio/Refereed.html (refereed publications)

http://irtfweb.ifa.hawaii.edu/research/biblio/Non_Refereed.html (unrefereed publications)

Please include in your paper the name of the instrument used.