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2017 Large and Long Program Proposal Cycle

This page contains information specific to the 2017 Large and Long Program proposal cycle. General information on the LLP proposal process, including proposal format and requirements, can be found on the LLP Proposal Process webpages.

Contents:

Important Dates

  • December 2016 - 2017 LLP Proposal Cycle Announcement of Opportunity
  • February 1, 2017 - Letters of Intent Due
  • March 1, 2017 - 2017B Call for Proposals released
  • March 31, 2017 - 2017 LLP Proposals deadline
  • Late April, 2017 - LPTAC meets
  • Mid-June, 2017 - 2017B telescope schedule and LLP proposal cycle announcements

Instrument Availability

The instruments available for new LLPs are listed below, along with any particular restrictions of note. At a minimum, facility instruments and modes must be currently commissioned to be available for new LLPs. Successful LLPs may also be limited by the semester-specific instrument availability restrictions announced with each semester's regular proposal Call for Proposals.

Gemini South

  • GMOS-S: Available for use 2017B-2020A.
  • Flamingos-2: Available for use 2017B-2020A. MOS mode is NOT available for LLP proposals.
  • GSAOI/GEMS: Available for use 2017B-2020A.
  • GPI: Available for use 2017B-2018B. The NRM mode is not available for LLP proposals.

Gemini North

  • GMOS-N: Available for use 2017B-2020A. All 2017 LLP proposals must be feasible using the currently installed E2V CCDs. PIs are encouraged to discuss the impact of the new Hamamatsu detectors on their proposed observations within their proposal.
  • GNIRS: Available for use 2017B-2020A.
  • NIFS: Available for use 2017B-2020A.
  • NIRI: Not available for new LLP proposals. NIR imaging is possible using GNIRS keyhole imaging.
  • Altair: Use of the adaptive optics system at Gemini North is limited to Natural Guide Star (NGS) programs. Use of the Laser Guide Star facility is not available for new LLP proposals.

Visitor Instruments

Gemini Observatory welcomes LLP proposals utilizing visitor instruments. However, due to the more complicated nature of ensuring visitor instrument availability for a given LLP proposal, each visitor instrument request must be treated on a case-by-case basis. Any PI considering a visiting instrument LLP proposal is encouraged to contact Gemini Observatory at largeprograms@gemini.edu early in the proposal process to discuss the feasibility of any request.

We especially encourage PIs to consider the use of GRACES for an LLP proposal. Gemini's Science and Technology Advisory Committee (STAC) encouraged "the Observatory to pursue a sufficiently long-term agreement for access to GRACES so that the instrument may be offered in the next call for Large/Long Programs" in the November 2016 STAC report.

Time Available

Up to 20% of the total time allocation from participating partners is available for LLPs. Details on the distribution of telescope time at Gemini Observatory can be found here. The exact number of hours available to LLPs each semester is not known until each semester's regular Call for Proposals is released. In general, we expect to be able to offer ~220 hours to LLPs at each telescope per semester. Existing LLP allocations will also reduce the time available for new LLPs.

The estimated time available for new LLPs is provided in the table below. The time available is estimated as 220 hours less any previously allocated LLP time. The exact time available will depend on instrument commissioning, engineering, campaign science, limited-term partnerships, etc.

Estimated Time Available for new LLPs (provisional)
Site 2017B LLPs 2018A LLPs 2018B LLPs 2019A LLPs 2019B LLPs 2020A LLPs
North 110 hours 113 hours 170 hours 177 hours 220 hours 220 hours
South 90 hours 10 hours 200 hours 220 hours 220 hours 220 hours

Specific Notes on Time Availability

  • Due to a large single-semester LLP allocation in 2018A, there is little-to-no time available for new LLPs in Semester 2018A at Gemini South.

Target and Observing Constraint Restrictions

An individual LLP need not request a balanced program across North/South, RA range, observing conditions, etc. However, the ensemble of approved LLPs must not overly impinge on other observing programs. Therefore, the ensemble of approved LPs should not exceed ~25% of any relevant parameter, such as hemisphere, RA range, and observing condition bins. See http://www.gemini.edu/sciops/telescopes-and-sites/observing-condition-constraints for further information on observing condition constraints.

For example, the best image quality, IQ20, in photometric conditions, CC50, only occurs approximately 10% of the time. For the total time available in a typical semester, one would expect these conditions to occur for only ~100 hours during the semester. LLP usage of these conditions would, therefore, be limited to ~25 hours per semesters.

LLPs will also be subject to general semester target availability restrictions, as published in the general call for proposals for each semester.

Previous LLP allocations further reduce the availability of certain Right Ascension and Observing Conditions constraint combinations. Noted below are particular RA/Observing Conditions bins where the total time availability is further limited due to these allocations, listed by semester.

Gemini North

  • 2017B:
    • RA 6-9h: Time within this RA bin is very limited in 2017B. IQ85 CC50 and better conditions are not available to new programs. ~30 hours is available in IQ85 CC70 and worse conditions.
    • RA 21-0h: Time for IQ70 CC50 SB50 conditions and better within this RA bin is not available to new programs.
  • 2018A:
    • RA 9-12h: Time for IQ70 CC50 SB50 conditions and better within this RA bin is limited to less than ~10 hours in 2018A.
    • RA 18-21h: Time for IQ70 CC50 SB50 conditions and better within this RA bin is limited to less than ~10 hours in 2018A.
  • 2018B:
    • RA 6-9h: Time for IQ70 CC50 SB50 conditions and better within this RA bin is not available to new programs in 2018B.
  • 2019A:
    • RA 18-21h: Time for IQ70 CC50 SB50 conditions and better within this RA bin is limited to less than ~5 hours in 2019A.

Gemini South

  • 2017B:
    • RA 6-9h: Time for IQ70 conditions or better within this RA bin is limited to less than 10 hours in 2017B.
    • RA 18-21h: Time for IQ70 conditions or better within this RA bin is limited to less than 5 hours in 2017B.
    • RA 21-0h: Time for IQ70 CC50 conditions or better within this RA bin is limited to less than ~8 hours in 2017B.
  • 2018B:
    • RA 18-21h: Time for IQ70 conditions or better within this RA bin is limited to less than 8 hours in 2018B.

Gemini Observatory Participants