Keck Engineering Time Allocation Committee: ETAC
The Keck ETAC determines the engineering schedule for the telescopes.
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Mission:
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- To provide structure and accountability to the Keck engineering programs and results.
- To more quickly identify unneeded engineering nights so that they may be given back to science.
- To optimize the use of telescope time.
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Charge:
- The ETAC will:
- Review total engineering requests for the upcoming semester, and propose a total package to the Observatory Director.
- Review individual engineering requests during the semester, on a quarterly basis. Schedule, prioritize, and request clarification when necessary.
- Follow up on results from scheduled engineering tests.
- Provide feedback on engineering results and usage for the SSC and/or CARA Board.
- Identify science give-back nights in a timely manner, to allow institutions to solicit programs for their use.
- The ETAC may reject proposals based on insufficient information, scheduling conflicts, significant engineering time overruns, and other reasons.
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Proposal Process:
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- Two months before quarter: ETAC issues call for engineering proposals
- Proposals submitted:
- Go to the observer login page
- If you already have an account, log in; if not, create a new account by clicking on the appropriate link.
- Under "Proposal Cover Sheets" click on the second link (to the right) to enter a new engineering proposal.
- Under "Instrument and Night Requests" click on the "select" link to the right to see all the available engineering nights.
- Fill out the form and click "Submit Engineering Cover Sheet" at the bottom.
- (Optional) Print a copy for your record.
- One month before quarter: ETAC publishes engineering schedule
- The ETAC may reject proposals based on insufficient information, scheduling conflicts, significant engineering time overruns, and other reasons.
- PI's of rejected proposals may appeal to the Observing Support Manager
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Expectations:
- Successful Engineering Teams will:
- Alert the ETAC as soon as possible if the team cannot make use of the time
- Prepare a detailed engineering plan to share with the OA and SA for the awarded night
- Submit a detailed nightlog report, preferably during the night.
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Appeals:
- If your proposal is denied, you may appeal the decision with the Observing Support Manager.
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Approximate Timeline:
Quarter |
Call for Proposals |
Proposals Due |
Engineering Schedule |
Feb - Apr | Dec 1 | Dec 21 | Jan 5 |
May - Jul | Mar 1 | Mar 21 | Apr 5 |
Aug - Oct | Jun 1 | Jun 21 | Jul 5 |
Nov - Jan | Sep 1 | Sep 21 | Oct 5 |
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Background:
- A percentage of night observing time is set aside in each semester's schedule for engineering use. The engineering time is used for development projects and testing of the Keck telescope and instrument systems. The time is reserved for tests that require the night sky and/or stellar point sources. Since the demand for Keck time for both science and engineering observations is ever increasing, a process has been developed to help facilitate the planning, executing, analyzing data, and reporting the engineering experiments. The process of reviewing time requests, scheduling, and posting the results is facilitated by the engineering time allocation committee, E-TAC. This is based on the example of how science observing time is parsed out by the TACs of the various institutions.
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Members:
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Chair, Jim Lyke: | Support Astronomer |
Carolyn Jordan: | Lead Observing Assistant |
Randy Campbell: | Science Operations Lead |
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Legacy Info:
- Pre-2013 Web Page