Trimester I, 2020, Call for Observing Time

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Please note that observing time applications on SAAO telescopes for Trimester I, 2020, are now open and the closing date is 15 September 2019. Applications can be made by registering and logging into the SAAO Observer Portal (https://portal.saao.ac.za/). If you already have SAAO user account, you can use that to access the Observer Portal without having to register a new user account.

The telescopes at Sutherland can now be remotely operated from the remote observing station in Cape Town (depending on the instrument one wants to use).

Observing time applicants can apply for fraction of weeks or nights if they are able to observe remotely from Cape Town or if they are able to drive themselves to Sutherland. We do encourage applicants to consider applying for time in blocks of nights, especially in cases where it is not justifiable to request a whole week of observing. If observers/applicants opt to observe from Cape Town, they are responsible for their own transport and accommodation in Cape Town. It may be possible to get accommodation at Jacaranda House at SAAO, but that is not guaranteed, and that will be the responsibility of the applicants to make sure that they reserve their accommodation there.

Note that remote observations from Cape Town will only be allowed for experienced observers who already have experience in operating the telescope they are applying for from Sutherland, or have been trained on using the telescope remotely . Training to use the remote observing station in Cape Town will be provided for users that will be doing remote observing for the first time.