WRITING A GOOD OBSERVING PROPOSAL

Judith Irwin

Dept. of Physics, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada, K7L 3N6

This paper emphasizes the importance of writing a good observing proposal and some specific ways in which this can be achieved. The process of granting observing time is explained in some detail for the JCMT. A postscript version is also available. (Note that some of the technical details are out-of-date, but the principles of writing a good proposal never change.)

• INTRODUCTION
• ASSIGNING OBSERVING TIME ON THE JCMT
  • The C-TAG
  • Canadian Proposals
  • The Time Budget
  • The Scientific Referees
  • The Technical Referee
  • Grading and Ranking Proposals
  • The C-TAG Meeting
• THE OBSERVING PROPOSAL
  • Where to get Information
  • Should You Write the Proposal?
  • Anatomy of a Proposal
    • The Cover Sheet
    • The Scientific Justification
    • Technical Considerations
    • Check List
  • Thesis Status
  • CANSERV
  • The Aftermath
  • Re-submission
• SUMMARY
• About this document ...