Memorandum to EVLA/VLBA Proposers and Observers

News

General announcements and news for investigators proposing to use the EVLA, VLBA, HSA, and other VLBI facilities for the 2010 October 1 deadline will be available in mid-September. A revised EVLA configuration schedule is available

Current Regular and Large Proposals

General

Information about the status of all current proposals on which your name appears has been e-mailed to you, in a format described under Static Information below. That e-mailing (a) includes proposals just considered for trimester 2010c plus those waiting for future trimesters, whatever their date of submission; and (b) does not include proposals submitted earlier that are waiting in the dynamic scheduling queues.

EVLA Scheduling

This can take two forms, dynamic and fixed date. Rare proposals, particularly those requiring coordination with other facilities, will be scheduled on fixed dates with notification to the observers about six weeks in advance. Most approved proposals will be accepted for insertion into the EVLA dynamic scheduling queue, at priorities ranging from 0 (highest) to 9 (lowest).

EVLA Statistics

There were 123 active EVLA proposals. We approved 60 proposals for insertion into the EVLA dynamic queue (4 of these were triggered transient proposals). One proposal was approved for fixed-date time. We rejected 55 proposals. For trimester 2010c, the ratio of the total time requested to the total time available was 4.8. A forthcoming eNews article will include information about approved proposals. The EVLA dynamic queue is generally oversubscribed. To gauge the pressure on dynamic time as a function of EVLA LST, consult the pressure histograms below for the B configuration (February 4 to April 25), the BnA configuration (April 29 to May 16), and the move configurations (January 24 to February 4, April 25-29). These pressure histograms for trimester 2010c exclude triggered transient proposals. OSRO restrictions are evolving with time, so we recommend that trimester 2010c observers wait until January to prepare their scheduling blocks. We also remind observers of the shared-risk nature of early science with the EVLA during trimester 2010c.

VLBA Scheduling

This can take two forms, dynamic and fixed date. Most approved proposals will be accepted for insertion into the VLBA dynamic scheduling queue, at priority 1 (highest), 2, or 3 (lowest). A Guide to VLBA Dynamic Scheduling is available. Rare proposals, particularly those requiring other resources such as a non-VLBA antenna, will be scheduled on fixed dates with notification to the observers about six weeks in advance.

VLBA Statistics

There were 38 active VLBA proposals. We approved 16 proposals for insertion into the VLBA dynamic queue. Six proposals were approved for fixed-date time. We rejected 14 proposals. The ratio of the total time requested to the total time approved for trimester 2010c was 1.4. A forthcoming eNews article will include information about approved proposals. The VLBA dynamic queue is generally oversubscribed. Trimester 2010c begins in mid-September and ends in mid-January. It is in the observers' interests to submit their key files early in the trimester.

Related Postings

These include the NRAO Proposal Referees' Guide, a complete description of the EVLA/VLBA Time Allocation Process, information from the EVLA/VLBA Scheduling Officers, and the proposal process for Rapid Response Science.

Static Information

Proposal Summary

The first line contains the proposal's code and legacy ID. The second line contains the proposal's title. The next few lines inform you of the proposal's status. This is followed by comments from the RSRO/ECSO Review (if applicable) and from the EVLA/VLBA Proposal Selection Committee. The authors of the proposal are then listed. For proposals for which we have allocated EVLA or VLBA time, a summary of this time appears. We also list the times requested in the proposal. The reports from the referees follow and they contain a numerical rating. The referees use any numerical system with which they are comfortable, subject only to the convention that the smaller the rating, the better the proposal. We include the median of the ratings given us by that particular referee in order to judge the relative rating of your proposal. The referee ratings are strongly advisory to the Committee, which, however, may also apply considerations of similar archival observations, logistics, resources used, etc., to decide which proposals to approve. Some referees also provide a value for a percent of time recommended, in comparison to the time requested in the proposal.

VLBI Global Network Proposals

NRAO evaluates these but the final choice of proposals for scheduling, for either the centimeter or the 3mm sessions, is done by negotiation between the US and European schedulers.

Modifications

Unless stated otherwise, any time allocated is only for the proposal given, and no substantial modification in the program should be made without consulting with schedsoc@nrao.edu (and R. Porcas for VLBI Global Network proposals) before doing so.

Public Outreach

The NRAO can help observers and their home institution prepare joint press releases, and/or help prepare enhanced graphics for publications. The NRAO encourages observers to submit images from their research to its on-line image gallery. Contact: mtadams@nrao.edu.

Copyright © 2009 Associated Universities, Inc.
The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a facility of the National Science Foundation operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.

Modified on Wednesday, 01-Sep-2010 15:54:19 MDT