Instruments |
Telescope Schedule |
Observing Information |
Booking Priorities:
You can help us to serve all of our observing community by noting the following:
We regularly have split nights on both telescopes. With only ten rooms, we cannot accomodate three observers for each of the four teams.
Guidelines from the observing team as to which of their members should be given
higher priority in these scenarios are welcome.
Also, observers sometimes have lengthy visits that may include one or more nights during which they are not observing. During these nights off, their priority according to the above table will be lower. Hence they may find that we have to temporarily move them to another accomodation. This will only happen when, because of their lower priority during their night off, they drop below ten other higher-priority people. While we try to avoid moving observers mid-visit, this is sometimes unavoidable. Again, any guidance on your preferences is appreciated. In particular, if you place higher value on staying at a single place during your visit, rather than splitting your stay between the VSQ and some other site, please let us know in the Comments section of the Reservations Request Form.
Finally, several problems are caused by last-minute reservations or changes to reservations. While we will still try to accomodate observers according to the above table, we cannot guarantee their booking priority. As indicated above, they may be given the lowest priority. Late requests may cause the hotels that Keck deals with (and who give Keck observers extremely favorable rates!) to lose money, and may impose significant inconvenience to other observers.
While we will do our best to satisfy the wishes of all observers, the reality is that with only 10 rooms we do not have the flexibility we need to make everyone happy. We beg your indulgence when difficult scheduling problems require you to change accomodations in the middle of a long stay, or otherwise inconvenience you.
Number of VSQ Rooms Allotted per Observing Team
A maximum of 3 rooms per team allocated, unless there are vacant rooms
WMKO makes reservations locally for team members not accommodated at the VSQ, and notifies the team member by e-mail.
Reminders:
An e-mail reminder will be automatically sent to each PI one month in advance of their run.
A subsequent e-mail will be sent two weeks in advance of the run to the PI and any team members that have already submitted reservation forms. This e-mail will list those who have already submitted reservations. The purpose of this reminder is to allow the observing team to make sure that all members have submitted reservation forms. Keep in mind that we have no way of knowing who is expected to be in Waimea for observing, other than those who submit reservation forms.
General Booking Considerations:
Reservations for any given date are received over a period of time, which sometimes makes it necessary to move a guest to other accommodations. If this happens the guest is notified by e-mail.
At times when we are fully booked and you have confirmed reservations, we will use the booking priority list as our basis for moving guests.
In spite of CONFIRMED reservations, if a stay includes non-observing nights the observer may be moved to another location (Jacaranda Inn or Waimea Country Lodge). Should this happen, reservations will be made and the observer notified by e-mail.
Other Accommodations:
Rooms at the local motels are guaranteed by WMKO until the guest checks in.
At that time the guest assumes charges.
Jacaranda Inn and Waimea Country Lodge have a 72-hour cancellation policy. Failure to cancel prior to 72 hours in advance results in one night being charged to WMKO. This charge will be billed to your credit card on file and receipt sent to address provided.
For questions concerning VSQ accommodations, contact Diana
Hudgins at (808) 881-3664, M-F 8:00am – 4:30pm HST