Modifications to the UK (and International) Service Observing Application Procedures

At their May 1998 meeting the UK-TAG held a lengthy discussion about the structure and the future of the UK Service observing programme. They have decided that the programme is still an extremely useful tool for the UK community to obtain timely (target-of-opportunity) observations, to complete previous PATT proposals that were weathered out or lost time due to observatory problems, and to make pilot studies in preparation for submitting full-blown PATT applications.

The TAG were not averse to continuing the practice of allowing the International community to submit service applications through this channel. International service applictions would still be included in the UK Service program as before.

However, the TAG did agree that the current system of submission, assessment and allocation was unwieldy and required modifications to bring it into line with the new JCMT electronic submission system, and to make the process much simpler to operate and manage.

Therefore the changes below are to be implemented with immediate effect for Service applications requesting time during Semester 98B.

Applying for Time

Applicants requesting observing time should now proceed along the same lines as those making full-blown PATT applications. The current version of the JCMT application template can be obtained by sending an email to the 'jcmtprop' account at the JAC (email to: jcmtprop@jach.hawaii.edu) with the phrase 'request templates' in the Subject line of the email. Any text following the header message will be ignored by the parser.

The template to be completed is identical to the regular PATT3. All information for the service application must be completed as for a regular PATT application. Please note that the SCIENTIFIC JUSTIFICATION for a service application must be limited to half of a single page. Figures, tables, diagrams and technical details may be included on an additional page as usual.

Submission Categories

The completed service application can be submitted back to 'jcmtprop' at any time. Since the parser only looks at the 'Subject' heading of the email to determine whether the application is a new or a revised proposal all applicants must ensure their proposal is sent with the appropriate heading in the 'Subject' of the email.

*If this is a new UK/International Service proposal the Subject line has to be:

or

The parser will assign a slightly modifed PATT number to each proposal which will be sent to you via return email. This number is of the usual form preceded with an 's' instead of the 'm' to indicate service proposal, for example, s98bu006 or s98bi004 etc.

*If this is a revised service proposal the Subject line has to be:

b) if this is a re-submission of an earlier rejected PATT application then please reference that application in the text so the TAG can refer to earlier notes.

There are, of course, no deadlines for submission of service applications. They may be submitted to 'jcmtprop' at any time during the semester and they will be processed as rapidly as possible.

Reminder about Full-Length PATT Applications

*If this is a new full-length PATT proposal the Subject line has to be:

(where 'xx' is uk, cn, nl, or int)

The parser will assign a PATT number to each proposal which will be sent to you via return email. This number is of the usual form, for example, m98bu006, m98bc020, m98bn102 or m98bi011 etc.

*If this is a revised full-length PATT proposal the Subject line has to be:

(or whatever number)

NOTE: putting an incorrect heading in the 'Subject' of your email submission may result in delays with processing your application.

Instruments/Time Limits

The service programme is now open to ALL instruments that the JCMT has advertised as available for that semester. Therefore for Semester 98B applicants may apply to use RxA2, RxB3, RxC2 (or the C-band section of RxW), the heterodyne polarimeter (on either RxA2 or RxB3), SCUBA, and the SCUBA polarimeter. Applications requesting the D-band section of RxW should await an announcement that it is operational on the telescope.

Applications requesting time using the heterodyne or continuum instrumentation should be restricted to total integration times (including overheads) which depend on the requested weather band.

- for grade 1/2 weather the maximum limit is 2 hours;

- for grade  3  weather the maximum limit is 4 hours;

- for grade 4/5 weather the maximum limit is 8 hours (1 full shift).

Each service application submitted will be automatically numbered by the parser and you should receive acknowledgement within a day or so. The application will be sent to 2 members of the UK-TAG for assessment and refereeing. If the application is approved the TAG will nominate a position for the application within one of the already existing queues and the proposal will be inserted at that point.

Please note there is no longer a separate UK Service queue. All successful applications will be inserted at an appropriate position within the existing queue structure. For the technically minded, this now means that the service applications will come out of the UKflex allocations.

Applicants will be informed as soon as possible whether their proposal has met with success and where it has been inserted in which weather queue. It is then of utmost importance that applicants submit a completed template for these observations as soon as possible so that the data can be taken whenever convenient.

The Observations

Normally these observations will not be of sufficient length to merit observers travelling to Hawaii and will usually be including for fleixble scheduling, therefore observing will be conducted by JCMT staff scientists.

The Data

Applicants will be informed as soon as possible after some of the data has been taken. If appropriate the PI will be contacted prior to or during the observations. The completed dataset can be obtained via the usual route.

Graeme Watt

(ITAC Technical Secretary)

30th July 1998