Proposal due dates
Proposals are solicited for Yale observing time on the telescopes to which Yale has access. Unless otherwise stated, full proposals are due at 17:00:00 Eastern time.
The 2026B proposal deadline is March 13, 5PM
Keck I: TBD
Keck II: TBD
Palomar P200*: TBD
SPECIAL NOTES AND CONSIDERATIONS FOR 2026B:
*Please consider submitting Target of Opportunity Palomar proposals for 2026B. The process for allocating ToOs is still under discussion; it will likely be in the form of 1-hr or 2-hr (clock time, not exposure time) interrupts. ToOs do not have to be time-critical; they can also be for (anticipated) newly discovered objects. Proposals should indicate the timing constraints (within hours; within days; any time during a two-week window; etc.) We expect the total number of Yale interrupts to be somewhere in the range 4-10 in the 2026B semester, partially depending on interest of the Yale community. We will develop more detailed instructions in future semesters, if there is sufficient interest in this mode.
Please read carefully, especially regarding instrument hibernations
- NIRES: NIRES will be hibernated after May 17, 2026.
- ESI: ESI will be hibernated at the end of the 2026A semester. ESI will continue to be scheduled in campaign mode to limit the number of reconfigs through each semester.
- HIRES: HIRES will be hibernated after the conclusion of 2026B in order to provide Keck I Nasmyth location for future instrumentation, including the instrument ZShooter (PIs Kulkarni & Kasliwal, CIT) which will notionally arrive in 2029. A comparison of HIRES and KPF capabilities can be found here (https://www2.keck.hawaii.edu/inst/kpf/KPFvsHIRES/). As per instrument evolution process, starting now and up to the start of the 27A semester, WMKO is soliciting feedback from the community regarding the HIRES planned hibernation. Please provide feedback through Keck Science Steering Committee members or address them to instrument_retirement@keck.hawaii.edu
- Additional instruments are under consideration for hibernation and eventual decommissioning in later semesters, with a focus on those instruments whose capabilities are being significantly superseded by new instrumentation.
Twilight Cadence Observing: In 2026A, institutions will continue to be able to allocate one twilight observing program per telescope, for a total of up to two programs. On Keck I, OSIRIS-NGS (imager only) will be available, and on Keck II, NIRC2-NGS will be available. Please note that due to ongoing AO upgrades, there will be times in the semester when AO is unavailable for cadence observations. Cadence program PIs are responsible for development of instrument scripts, providing documentation, and training of staff needed to make the cadence program a turnkey operation.
Click here for information about Yale’s facilities.
Proposal forms and submission (Yale astronomers only)
- Please see our internal Forms & Policies page for pre-proposal and proposal forms.
Additional telescope-specific instructions for proposal submission:
- Keck: Fill out a Keck cover sheet on the Keck observer login page and attach a PDF copy of it to your proposal before submission to the Yale TAC.
- Palomar: Fill out the P200 cover sheet on the Palomar website and and attach a PDF copy of it to your proposal before submission to the Yale TAC.
Completed PDF proposals and cover sheets / confirmations (where applicable) should be sent to Robyn Lisone (at yale . edu) before the deadline (as above).
Submitted proposals are posted on a password protected website for TAC review.