Proposals

Proposal Process and Due Dates

Observing time on the McDonald Observatory telescopes, including UT Austin time on the Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET), is allocated based on a peer reviewed proposal process. Proposals are solicited three times per year. Details specific to each trimester will be emailed to normal users about two weeks prior to the deadline. 

Proposal due dates for HET and the telescopes on Mt. Locke are staggered by one week. 

If any of these dates occur on a weekend or University holiday, the proposals are due on the next business day at 5 p.m. central time. 

The current Call for Proposals (CfP) provides details of available instruments, observing time (on the HET) and other constraints.  Please make sure that you are referring to the appropriate version of the CfP as these constraints and other rules change from trimester to trimester.
 

NOTE: We acknowledge all proposals via email within a few days of the deadline. If you do not receive this acknowledgment, please email bgandersson@austin.utexas.edu and inquire. 

Proposal Forms

Proposals for the telescopes on Mt. Locke are accepted for the 2.7-m, 2.1-m and 0.8-m telescopes. Each applicant provides a scientific proposal justifying the telescope time and providing information necessary to schedule the telescope (requested dates, lunar phase, instrument, etc). Submissions are only accepted during the three week period preceding each trimester due date. 

 mt. Locke telescope proposals 

Instructions and submission requirements - Accounts on this system are user assignable. 

Hobby-eberly Telescope proposals 

Accounts on the system are user-assignable. Proposers for the UT share of the HET must have a UT Austin Principal Investigator. 

Important Information

The Principal Investigator is responsible for successful accomplishment of the observing. The institutional affiliation of the PI determines whether the telescope time is counted as UT Austin or as Director's discretionary time.