1.10 Submitting a proposal

The Compact Array usually operates under a semester system with two application deadlines each year: June 15 for observations from October 1 to March 31; and December 15 for observations from April 1 to September 30. During each semester array maintenance, upgrades and array reconfigurations (moving the antennas to different stations) are scheduled in addition to astronomical observations.

Target of Opportunity (ToO) requests for observations of extremely important transient or non-predicted events can be made at any time, see http://www.atnf.csiro.au/observers/apply/too_apply.html for details.

Based on previous experience, observing at 3mm usually ends by October 15, restarting in late April. Detection experiments at 7mm and 15mm usually end by October 31, restarting in early March. Observations of bright compact sources, for which self-calibration is possible, may be made throughout the year. Observations at times other than those indicated above require an explicit justification in the proposal.

For information about the current status of the ATNF facilities see:
http://www.atnf.csiro.au/observers/apply/avail.html.

Before submitting proposals to observe particular objects, you should check that the observation you are proposing has not already been made. Previous Compact Array proposals and observations can be found in the ATOA (Australia Telescope Online Archive) (http://atoa.atnf.csiro.au/). After the proprietary period has expired, the data files from previous observations may be downloaded from ATOA. An archive of older proposals (submitted between 1990 Quarter2 and the 2005 OCTS observing semester) is held in the Projects Database.

All ATNF Telescope Applications must be submitted using OPAL.

1.10.1 A ’Friend’

First-time observers may wish to request a ‘friend’ who can help them write the schedule file in Sydney prior to coming to the observatory. To request a friend, check the box in your proposal for observing time; or if you decide later to request a friend, email atnf-enquiries@atnf.csiro.au as soon as possible after observing schedules have been published.

Your ‘friend’ will be an ATNF astronomer in Sydney, who will help you create schedule files and get you started with the data analysis after the observations. The ‘friend’ does not go to the observatory with you.

A duty astronomer (or DA, http://www.narrabri.atnf.csiro.au/observing/support/da_support.html) is provided at Narrabri who will help in the initial setting up of the telescope and with any problems which arise in the course of the observations. In addition, they may also help with schedule preparation and initial data analysis, although requesting a ‘friend’ is a better option for observers that require this help, as they will be involved much earlier than the DA. The duty astronomer however has no obligation to participate in the observing.