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FT Call for Proposals

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Fast Turnaround Block

Gemini North and South are accepting proposals for the Fast Turnaround (FT) program in this call. Here, we give information specific to this proposal cycle. Please see the other FT pages - particularly the rules - for general information about the program. FT (dual anonymous)-specific proposal templates (GemPhaseI_FT_dual) must now be used for all FT proposals. See the "PIT information" section below. The 2024A PIT must be used.

Important dates

  • Proposal deadline: 12:00pm (NOON), Hawaiian Standard Time (HST), March 31.

  • Please ensure the latest version of the PIT is used for submission (see the PIT information below).
  • Reviews must be completed by 23:59 HST, April 14. If you have submitted a proposal, but by the 2nd of the month have not received an email from FT regarding reviewing proposals, contact FT as soon as possible.
  • Results will be announced by April 21, 2024.
  • The deadline for preparing observations (Phase II) is April 30. Accepted programs meeting this deadline will be active from 1 May until 31 July 2024.
  • FT observations will be merged with the queue and observed on queue nights.

Dual Anonymous Review Process (DARP)

  • Since Feb 2021, we have been using a dual anonymous review process. New proposal templates for FT have been updated. DARP compliance is mandatory. Proposals using the wrong template will be removed from consideration.  Proposals that do not follow all the DARP guidelines will either be removed from consideration or sent to the directorate for review.  
  • Guideline for PIs
    • Enter information of the proposing team with the Phase I Tool (PIT) as usual.
    • Use the FT specific template.
    • The proposal template has been updated to be compliant with DARP since Feb 1, 2021
    • Avoid mentioning names and affiliations of the team in the PDF attachment that could be used to identify the proposing team.
    • Avoid claiming ownership of past work. (E.g., “my successful Gemini program in the previous semester (GS-18A-xxx)”, or “our analysis shown in Doe et al. 2020…”)
    • Including text in proposals discussing previous use of Gemini is ok, as long as that work is not referenced and program IDs are not listed.
    • Cite references in passive third person, e.g., “Analysis shown in Doe et al. 2020”, including references to data and software.
    • Do describe the proposed work, e.g., “We propose to do the following…”, or “We will measure the effects of …”
    • Unpublished work can be referred to as “obtained in private communication” or “from private consultation”.
  • Guideline for Reviewers
    • Accept the assigned proposals based on abstracts whether you can provide an unbiased review or not.
    • Review proposals solely based on the scientific merit of what is proposed.
    • Do not spend any time attempting to identify the PI or the team. Even if you think you know, you can be wrong.
    • Utilize neutral pronouns (they/the PI/the team) when you write comments.
    • Flag the proposals that have not been sufficiently anonymized but DO NOT penalize them by lowering grades. (The FT support team will check the flagged proposals and send any violations to the Gemini Directorate for review.)  
  • More detailed guidelines can be found on the FT webpage

Eligibility

  • PIs from all participant countries (except Chile) taking part in the FT program may apply for this cycle.
  • PIs from UH are able to apply for FT time at GS as US, but may not apply for GN time. 
  • Chile and UH have withdrawn from Fast Turnaround since 2021A and 2024A, respectively.
  • In agreement with Subaru Observatory, Japanese community proposers may only apply for up to 4 hrs of time on a single proposal (and no more than 4hrs total will be awarded to Japanese community PIs in a cycle).  
  • PIs from participant countries whose FT time for the semester has been used up should not apply for the remainder of the semester. At this time, KR has used its full allocation and KR users should not apply for the remainder of 24A. Note that some participant countries only have very small amounts of FT time available each semester. AR has only 2.2h and 1.8h available for this cycle at GN and GS, respectively.  See Rule #4 and Q&A for more information.

Acceptable RA ranges

  • Gemini North: Targets from about RA = 8.5 hr to 2.5 hr are acceptable during this cycle. Note, however, that RAs near 8.5h will only be accessible for a couple hours during the first half of the first month (May) and only at northern declinations (Dec > 0) . Likewise, RAs near 2.5h will only be accessible for a couple hours during the final month (July) and again only in the above declination range. Note Rule #9; an FT program may not fully backload its three-month active period; at least one of its targets must be observable during its first active month.
  • Gemini South: Targets from about RA = 7.5 hr to 3.5 hr are acceptable during this cycle. Note that RAs near 7.5h will only be accessible for a couple hours during the first half of the first month (May) and only at favorable declinations (Dec< 0) . Likewise, RAs near 3.5h will only be accessible for a couple hours during the final month (July) and again only in the above declination range. Note Rule #9; an FT program may not fully backload its three-month active period; at least one of its targets must be observable during its first active month.

Available instruments and observing modes

Gemini North

  • GMOS-N, GNIRS, and MAROON-X are available throughout much of the cycle.   
  • We are offering Altair in NGS mode only, with GNIRS.
  • The GNIRS Low-Resolution IFU is offered. However, be aware that the Gemini IRAF package for the LR-IFU is in preparation and will not be released until sometime in May 2024. In the interim, PIs who receive FT data may request a patch package, which is made available on a best-effort basis only; bugs will not be fixed before the May release.
  • LGS is not currently offered this cycle.  
  • Alopeke is available during a single block in May. If observations are needed outside of Alopeke blocks, please contact the FT team before proposal submission to check for additional availability.
  • Make sure to check the 24A schedule for detailed instrument availability.
  • For MAROON-X, it is now possible to check for target duplications.  Please see the instructions in the Phase I checklist.
  • Please contact the FT team in advance with any specific questions (Fast.Turnaround at gemini.edu).

Gemini South

  • GHOST is offered this cycle.
  • GMOS-S and F2 are also available this cycle. Note that data reduction software for GMOS-S (with new CCDs) will likely not be available until mid-2024. 
  • F2 MOS is not offered in this cycle. F2 MOS is limited by the number of masks that can be inserted in the instrument and will likely again be offered for the June-August FT cycle.
  • IGRINS is no longer offered. 
  • Zorro is available for a single block in July.  If you require Zorro observations outside of Zorro blocks, please check for availability with the FT team ahead of proposal submission. 
  • Please check the instrument's schedule or contact the FT team in advance with any specific questions (Fast.Turnaround at gemini.edu). 
  • Make sure to check the 24A instrument schedule for detailed instrument availability.
  • GeMS/GSAOI are not offered via FT.

Both telescopes

  • FT observations may not be executed during classical observing, or priority visitor (PV), depending on the prevailing conditions.
  • For visiting instruments not listed above, please contact the FT team to check availability (Fast.Turnaround at gemini.edu).
  • The R600 grating in each GMOS instrument is NOT offered for FT (or regular queue) observations.
  • MOS observations are available for FT, subject to some caveats/restrictions.
  • As discussed in the rules and Q&A, please contact the Fast Turnaround team in advance of the deadline if you would like to propose for an unusual instrument configuration or observing mode.

Time available

  • At this point, no partners have used up their FT shares.  
  • Up to 17.7 (14.7) hrs per cycle at GN (GS) is available for FT observations. Very roughly, this implies:
    • 4 (3) hrs of 20%-ile conditions (IQ=20, for example; see this web page)
    • 9 (7.4) hrs of 50%-ile conditions
    • 12.4 (10.3) hrs of 70%-ile conditions
    • 15 (12.5) hrs of 85%-ile conditions
  • PIs may propose for up to the amount of time in their most restrictive observing conditions, subject to partner's time availability - see rule #4. For example, a proposal requesting CC50 IQ20 SB50 WVany conditions can request no more than 4 hrs of observing time.

PIT information

  • Proposals must be submitted using the version of the Phase I Tool specified on this web page
  • In the Time Requests tab, select "Fast Turnaround Observing at Gemini" as the proposal class and specify the reviewer (and mentor, if appropriate). Note that this is where the reviewer is defined; changes cannot be made after the proposal has been submitted.
  • For the pdf attachment to the proposal, the dedicated LaTeX/Word template specifically for FT proposals must be used.
  • Submitting the same proposal more than once during a given month (e.g. after correcting/editing a submitted version) should be avoided if at all possible. Only submit when you are sure your proposal is ready to be reviewed.

Gemini North and South are accepting proposals for the Fast Turnaround (FT) program in this call. Here, we give information specific to this proposal cycle. Please see the other FT pages - particularly the rules - for general information about the program. FT (dual anonymous)-specific proposal templates (GemPhaseI_FT_dual) must now be used for all FT proposals. See the "PIT information" section below. The 2024A PIT must be used.

Important dates

  • Proposal deadline: 12:00pm (NOON), Hawaiian Standard Time (HST), February 29.

  • Please ensure the latest version of the PIT is used for submission (see the PIT information below).
  • Reviews must be completed by 23:59 HST, March 14. If you have submitted a proposal, but by the 2nd of the month have not received an email from FT regarding reviewing proposals, contact FT as soon as possible.
  • Results will be announced by March 21, 2024.
  • The deadline for preparing observations (Phase II) is March 31. Accepted programs meeting this deadline will be active from 1 April until 30 June 2024.
  • FT observations will be merged with the queue and observed on queue nights.

Dual Anonymous Review Process (DARP)

  • Since Feb 2021, we have been using a dual anonymous review process. New proposal templates for FT have been updated. DARP compliance is mandatory. Proposals using the wrong template will be removed from consideration.  Proposals that do not follow all the DARP guidelines will either be removed from consideration or sent to the directorate for review.  
  • Guideline for PIs
    • Enter information of the proposing team with the Phase I Tool (PIT) as usual.
    • Use the FT specific template.
    • The proposal template has been updated to be compliant with DARP since Feb 1, 2021
    • Avoid mentioning names and affiliations of the team in the PDF attachment that could be used to identify the proposing team.
    • Avoid claiming ownership of past work. (E.g., “my successful Gemini program in the previous semester (GS-18A-xxx)”, or “our analysis shown in Doe et al. 2020…”)
    • Including text in proposals discussing previous use of Gemini is ok, as long as that work is not referenced and program IDs are not listed.
    • Cite references in passive third person, e.g., “Analysis shown in Doe et al. 2020”, including references to data and software.
    • Do describe the proposed work, e.g., “We propose to do the following…”, or “We will measure the effects of …”
    • Unpublished work can be referred to as “obtained in private communication” or “from private consultation”.
  • Guideline for Reviewers
    • Accept the assigned proposals based on abstracts whether you can provide an unbiased review or not.
    • Review proposals solely based on the scientific merit of what is proposed.
    • Do not spend any time attempting to identify the PI or the team. Even if you think you know, you can be wrong.
    • Utilize neutral pronouns (they/the PI/the team) when you write comments.
    • Flag the proposals that have not been sufficiently anonymized but DO NOT penalize them by lowering grades. (The FT support team will check the flagged proposals and send any violations to the Gemini Directorate for review.)  
  • More detailed guidelines can be found on the FT webpage

Eligibility

  • PIs from all participant countries (except Chile) taking part in the FT program may apply for this cycle.
  • PIs from UH are able to apply for FT time at GS as US, but may not apply for GN time. 
  • Chile and UH have withdrawn from Fast Turnaround since 2021A and 2024A, respectively.
  • In agreement with Subaru Observatory, Japanese community proposers may only apply for up to 4 hrs of time on a single proposal (and no more than 4hrs total will be awarded to Japanese community PIs in a cycle).  
  • PIs from participant countries whose FT time for the semester has been used up should not apply for the remainder of the semester. Note that some participant countries only have very small amounts of FT time available each semester. AR has only 2.2h and 1.8h available for this cycle at GN and GS, respectively.  See Rule #4 and Q&A for more information.

Acceptable RA ranges

  • Gemini North: Targets from about RA = 7 hr to 0 hr are acceptable during this cycle. Note, however, that RAs near 7h will only be accessible for a couple hours during the first half of the first month (April) and only at northern declinations (Dec > 0) . Likewise, RAs near 0h will only be accessible for a couple hours during the final month (June) and again only in the above declination range. Note Rule #9; an FT program may not fully backload its three-month active period; at least one of its targets must be observable during its first active month.
  • Gemini South: Targets from about RA = 7 hr to 1 hr are acceptable during this cycle. Note that RAs near 7h will only be accessible for a couple hours during the first half of the first month (April) and only at favorable declinations (Dec< 0) . Likewise, RAs near 1h will only be accessible for a couple hours during the final month (June) and again only in the above declination range. Note Rule #9; an FT program may not fully backload its three-month active period; at least one of its targets must be observable during its first active month.

Available instruments and observing modes

Gemini North

  • GMOS-N, GNIRS, and MAROON-X are available throughout much of the cycle.   
  • We are offering Altair in NGS mode only, with GNIRS.
  • The GNIRS Low-Resolution IFU is offered. However, be aware that the Gemini IRAF package for the LR-IFU is in preparation and will not be released until May 2024. In the interim, PIs who receive FT data may request a patch package, which is made available on a best-effort basis only; bugs will not be fixed before the May release.
  • LGS is not currently offered this cycle.  Please check back ahead of the deadline for any updates.
  • Alopeke is available during blocks in March and May. If observations are needed outside of these blocks, please contact the FT team before proposal submission to check for additional availability.
  • Make sure to check the 24A schedule for detailed instrument availability.
  • For MAROON-X, it is now possible to check for target duplications.  Please see the instructions in the Phase I checklist.
  • Please contact the FT team in advance with any specific questions (Fast.Turnaround at gemini.edu).

Gemini South

  • GMOS-S and F2 are available this cycle. Note that data reduction software for GMOS-S (with new CCDs) will likely not be available until mid-2024. 
  • F2 MOS is not offered in this cycle. F2 MOS is limited by the number of masks that can be inserted in the instrument and will likely again be offered for the June-August FT cycle.
  • IGRINS and Zorro are also available for some part of this cycle. Please check the instrument's schedule or contact the FT team in advance with any specific questions (Fast.Turnaround at gemini.edu).  If you require Zorro observations outside of Zorro blocks, please check for availability with the FT team ahead of proposal submission. IGRINS will be available in April only.
  • GHOST is not offered for this cycle.
  • Make sure to check the 24A instrument schedule for detailed instrument availability.
  • GeMS/GSAOI are not offered via FT.

Both telescopes

  • FT observations may not be executed during classical observing, or priority visitor (PV), depending on the prevailing conditions.
  • For visiting instruments not listed above, please contact the FT team to check availability (Fast.Turnaround at gemini.edu).
  • The R600 grating in each GMOS instrument is NOT offered for FT (or regular queue) observations.
  • MOS observations are available for FT, subject to some caveats/restrictions.
  • As discussed in the rules and Q&A, please contact the Fast Turnaround team in advance of the deadline if you would like to propose for an unusual instrument configuration or observing mode.

Time available

  • At this point, no partners have used up their FT shares
  • Up to 17.7 (14.7) hrs per cycle at GN (GS) is available for FT observations. Very roughly, this implies:
    • 4 (3) hrs of 20%-ile conditions (IQ=20, for example; see this web page)
    • 9 (7.4) hrs of 50%-ile conditions
    • 12.4 (10.3) hrs of 70%-ile conditions
    • 15 (12.5) hrs of 85%-ile conditions
  • PIs may propose for up to the amount of time in their most restrictive observing conditions, subject to partner's time availability - see rule #4. For example, a proposal requesting CC50 IQ20 SB50 WVany conditions can request no more than 4 hrs of observing time.

PIT information

  • Proposals must be submitted using the version of the Phase I Tool specified on this web page
  • In the Time Requests tab, select "Fast Turnaround Observing at Gemini" as the proposal class and specify the reviewer (and mentor, if appropriate). Note that this is where the reviewer is defined; changes cannot be made after the proposal has been submitted.
  • For the pdf attachment to the proposal, the dedicated LaTeX/Word template specifically for FT proposals must be used.
  • Submitting the same proposal more than once during a given month (e.g. after correcting/editing a submitted version) should be avoided if at all possible. Only submit when you are sure your proposal is ready to be reviewed.

Gemini North and South are accepting proposals for the Fast Turnaround (FT) program in this call. Here, we give information specific to this proposal cycle. Please see the other FT pages - particularly the rules - for general information about the program. FT (dual anonymous)-specific proposal templates (GemPhaseI_FT_dual) must now be used for all FT proposals. See the "PIT information" section below. The 2024A PIT must be used.

Important dates

  • Proposal deadline: 12:00pm (NOON), Hawaiian Standard Time (HST), January 31.

  • Please ensure the latest version of the PIT is used for submission (see the PIT information below).
  • Reviews must be completed by 23:59 HST, February 14. If you have submitted a proposal, but by the 2nd of the month have not received an email from FT regarding reviewing proposals, contact FT as soon as possible.
  • Results will be announced by February 21, 2024.
  • The deadline for preparing observations (Phase II) is February 29. Accepted programs meeting this deadline will be active from 1 March until 31 May 2024.
  • FT observations will be merged with the queue and observed on queue nights.

Dual Anonymous Review Process (DARP)

  • Since Feb 2021, we have been using a dual anonymous review process. New proposal templates for FT have been updated. DARP compliance is mandatory. Proposals using the wrong template will be removed from consideration.  Proposals that do not follow all the DARP guidelines will either be removed from consideration or sent to the directorate for review.  
  • Guideline for PIs
    • Enter information of the proposing team with the Phase I Tool (PIT) as usual.
    • Use the FT specific template.
    • The proposal template has been updated to be compliant with DARP since Feb 1, 2021
    • Avoid mentioning names and affiliations of the team in the PDF attachment that could be used to identify the proposing team.
    • Avoid claiming ownership of past work. (E.g., “my successful Gemini program in the previous semester (GS-18A-xxx)”, or “our analysis shown in Doe et al. 2020…”)
    • Including text in proposals discussing previous use of Gemini is ok, as long as that work is not referenced and program IDs are not listed.
    • Cite references in passive third person, e.g., “Analysis shown in Doe et al. 2020”, including references to data and software.
    • Do describe the proposed work, e.g., “We propose to do the following…”, or “We will measure the effects of …”
    • Unpublished work can be referred to as “obtained in private communication” or “from private consultation”.
  • Guideline for Reviewers
    • Accept the assigned proposals based on abstracts whether you can provide an unbiased review or not.
    • Review proposals solely based on the scientific merit of what is proposed.
    • Do not spend any time attempting to identify the PI or the team. Even if you think you know, you can be wrong.
    • Utilize neutral pronouns (they/the PI/the team) when you write comments.
    • Flag the proposals that have not been sufficiently anonymized but DO NOT penalize them by lowering grades. (The FT support team will check the flagged proposals and send any violations to the Gemini Directorate for review.)  
  • More detailed guidelines can be found on the FT webpage

Eligibility

  • PIs from all participant countries (except Chile) taking part in the FT program may apply for this cycle.
  • PIs from UH are able to apply for FT time at GS as US, but may not apply for GN time. 
  • Chile and UH have withdrawn from Fast Turnaround since 2021A and 2024A, respectively.
  • In agreement with Subaru Observatory, Japanese community proposers may only apply for up to 4 hrs of time on a single proposal (and no more than 4hrs total will be awarded to Japanese community PIs in a cycle).  
  • PIs from participant countries whose FT time for the semester has been used up should not apply for the remainder of the semester. Note that some participant countries only have very small amounts of FT time available each semester. AR has only 2.2h and 1.8h available for this cycle at GN and GS, respectively.  See Rule #4 and Q&A for more information.

Acceptable RA ranges

  • Gemini North: Targets from about RA = 4.5 hr to 22.5 hr are acceptable during this cycle. Note, however, that RAs near 4.5h will only be accessible for a couple hours during the first half of the first month (March) and only at northern declinations (Dec > 0) . Likewise, RAs near 22.5h will only be accessible for a couple hours during the final month (May) and again only in the above declination range. Note Rule #9; an FT program may not fully backload its three-month active period; at least one of its targets must be observable during its first active month.
  • Gemini South: Targets from about RA = 4.5 hr to 23.5 hr are acceptable during this cycle. Note that RAs near 4.5h will only be accessible for a couple hours during the first half of the first month (Mar) and only at favorable declinations (Dec< 0) . Likewise, RAs near 23.5h will only be accessible for a couple hours during the final month (May) and again only in the above declination range. Note Rule #9; an FT program may not fully backload its three-month active period; at least one of its targets must be observable during its first active month.

Available instruments and observing modes

Gemini North

  • GMOS-N, GNIRS, and MAROON-X are available throughout much of the cycle.   
  • We are offering Altair in NGS mode only, with GNIRS.
  • The GNIRS Low-Resolution IFU is offered. However, be aware that the Gemini IRAF package for the LR-IFU is in preparation and will not be released until May 2024. In the interim, PIs who receive FT data may request a patch package, which is made available on a best-effort basis only; bugs will not be fixed before the May release.
  • LGS is not currently offered this cycle.  Please check back ahead of the deadline for any updates.
  • Alopeke is available during blocks in March and May. If observations are needed outside of these blocks, please contact the FT team before proposal submission to check for additional availability.
  • Make sure to check the 24A schedule for detailed instrument availability.
  • For MAROON-X, it is now possible to check for target duplications.  Please see the instructions in the Phase I checklist.
  • Please contact the FT team in advance with any specific questions (Fast.Turnaround at gemini.edu).

Gemini South

  • GMOS-S and F2 are available this cycle. Note that data reduction software for GMOS-S (with new CCDs) will likely not be available until mid-2024. 
  • F2 MOS is limited by the number of masks that can be inserted in the instrument and is not offered every FT cycle. It is offered in this cycle. Please read about its capabilities carefully. Since pre-images will be needed for most programs, F2 MOS targets are further restricted between RA 8 hr and 20 hr in this cycle.  Please contact the Fast Turnaround team before submission if you believe you will not need pre-imaging.  A maximum of 8 masks can be installed in the instrument.
  • IGRINS and Zorro are also available for some part of this cycle. Please check the instrument's schedule or contact the FT team in advance with any specific questions (Fast.Turnaround at gemini.edu).  If you require Zorro observations outside of the Zorro block, please check with the FT team ahead of proposal submission.
  • GHOST is not offered for this cycle.
  • Make sure to check the 24A instrument schedule for detailed instrument availability.
  • GeMS/GSAOI are not offered via FT.

Both telescopes

  • FT observations may not be executed during classical observing, or priority visitor (PV), depending on the prevailing conditions.
  • For visiting instruments not listed above, please contact the FT team to check availability (Fast.Turnaround at gemini.edu).
  • The R600 grating in each GMOS instrument is NOT offered for FT (or regular queue) observations.
  • MOS observations are available for FT, subject to some caveats/restrictions.
  • As discussed in the rules and Q&A, please contact the Fast Turnaround team in advance of the deadline if you would like to propose for an unusual instrument configuration or observing mode.

Time available

  • At this point, no partners have used up their FT shares
  • Up to 17.7 (14.7) hrs per cycle at GN (GS) is available for FT observations. Very roughly, this implies:
    • 4 (3) hrs of 20%-ile conditions (IQ=20, for example; see this web page)
    • 9 (7.4) hrs of 50%-ile conditions
    • 12.4 (10.3) hrs of 70%-ile conditions
    • 15 (12.5) hrs of 85%-ile conditions
  • PIs may propose for up to the amount of time in their most restrictive observing conditions, subject to partner's time availability - see rule #4. For example, a proposal requesting CC50 IQ20 SB50 WVany conditions can request no more than 4 hrs of observing time.

PIT information

  • Proposals must be submitted using the version of the Phase I Tool specified on this web page
  • In the Time Requests tab, select "Fast Turnaround Observing at Gemini" as the proposal class and specify the reviewer (and mentor, if appropriate). Note that this is where the reviewer is defined; changes cannot be made after the proposal has been submitted.
  • For the pdf attachment to the proposal, the dedicated LaTeX/Word template specifically for FT proposals must be used.
  • Submitting the same proposal more than once during a given month (e.g. after correcting/editing a submitted version) should be avoided if at all possible. Only submit when you are sure your proposal is ready to be reviewed.

Gemini North and South are accepting proposals for the Fast Turnaround (FT) program in this call. Here, we give information specific to this proposal cycle. Please see the other FT pages - particularly the rules - for general information about the program. FT (dual anonymous)-specific proposal templates (GemPhaseI_FT_dual) must now be used for all FT proposals. See the "PIT information" section below. The 2024A PIT must be used.

Important dates

  • Proposal deadline: 12:00pm (NOON), Hawaiian Standard Time (HST), December 31.

  • Please ensure the latest version of the PIT is used for submission (see the PIT information below).
  • Reviews must be completed by 23:59 HST, January 14. If you have submitted a proposal, but by the 2nd of the month have not received an email from FT regarding reviewing proposals, contact FT as soon as possible.
  • Results will be announced by January 21, 2024.
  • The deadline for preparing observations (Phase II) is January 31. Accepted programs meeting this deadline will be active from 1 February until 30 April 2024.
  • FT observations will be merged with the queue and observed on queue nights.

Dual Anonymous Review Process (DARP)

  • Since Feb 2021, we have been using a dual anonymous review process. New proposal templates for FT have been updated. DARP compliance is mandatory. Proposals using the wrong template will be removed from consideration.  Proposals that do not follow all the DARP guidelines will either be removed from consideration or sent to the directorate for review.  
  • Guideline for PIs
    • Enter information of the proposing team with the Phase I Tool (PIT) as usual.
    • Use the FT specific template.
    • The proposal template has been updated to be compliant with DARP since Feb 1, 2021
    • Avoid mentioning names and affiliations of the team in the PDF attachment that could be used to identify the proposing team.
    • Avoid claiming ownership of past work. (E.g., “my successful Gemini program in the previous semester (GS-18A-xxx)”, or “our analysis shown in Doe et al. 2020…”)
    • Including text in proposals discussing previous use of Gemini is ok, as long as that work is not referenced and program IDs are not listed.
    • Cite references in passive third person, e.g., “Analysis shown in Doe et al. 2020”, including references to data and software.
    • Do describe the proposed work, e.g., “We propose to do the following…”, or “We will measure the effects of …”
    • Unpublished work can be referred to as “obtained in private communication” or “from private consultation”.
  • Guideline for Reviewers
    • Accept the assigned proposals based on abstracts whether you can provide an unbiased review or not.
    • Review proposals solely based on the scientific merit of what is proposed.
    • Do not spend any time attempting to identify the PI or the team. Even if you think you know, you can be wrong.
    • Utilize neutral pronouns (they/the PI/the team) when you write comments.
    • Flag the proposals that have not been sufficiently anonymized but DO NOT penalize them by lowering grades. (The FT support team will check the flagged proposals and send any violations to the Gemini Directorate for review.)  
  • More detailed guidelines can be found on the FT webpage

Eligibility

  • PIs from all participant countries (except Chile) taking part in the FT program may apply for this cycle.
  • PIs from UH are able to apply for FT time at GS as US, but may not apply for GN time. 
  • Chile and UH have withdrawn from Fast Turnaround since 2021A and 2024A, respectively.
  • In agreement with Subaru Observatory, Japanese community proposers may only apply for up to 4 hrs of time on a single proposal (and no more than 4hrs total will be awarded to Japanese community PIs in a cycle).  
  • PIs from participant countries whose FT time for the semester has been used up should not apply for the remainder of the semester. Note that some participant countries only have very small amounts of FT time available each semester. AR has only 2.2h and 1.8h available for this cycle at GN and GS, respectively.  See Rule #4 and Q&A for more information.

Acceptable RA ranges

  • Gemini North: Targets from about RA = 3.5 hr to 20.5 hr are acceptable during this cycle. Note, however, that RAs near 3.5h will only be accessible for a couple hours during the first half of the first month (February) and only at northern declinations (Dec > 0) . Likewise, RAs near 20.5h will only be accessible for a couple hours during the final month (April) and again only in the above declination range. Note Rule #9; an FT program may not fully backload its three-month active period; at least one of its targets must be observable during its first active month.
  • Gemini South: Targets from about RA = 4.5 hr to 21 hr are acceptable during this cycle. Note that RAs near 4.5h will only be accessible for a couple hours during the first half of the first month (Feb) and only at favorable declinations (Dec< 0) . Likewise, RAs near 21h will only be accessible for a couple hours during the final month (Apr) and again only in the above declination range. Note Rule #9; an FT program may not fully backload its three-month active period; at least one of its targets must be observable during its first active month.

Available instruments and observing modes

Gemini North

  • GMOS-N and GNIRS are available throughout the cycle.   
  • MAROON-X is also available for much of the cycle.
  • NIFS will be available at the beginning of February.  
  • We are offering Altair in NGS mode only, with GNIRS and NIFS.
  • LGS is not offered this cycle.
  • Alopeke is available for a week in March. If observations are needed outside of this block, please contact the FT team before proposal submission to check for additional availability.
  • Make sure to check the 24A schedule for detailed instrument availability.
  • For MAROON-X, it is now possible to check for target duplications.  Please see the instructions in the Phase I checklist.
  • Please contact the FT team in advance with any specific questions (Fast.Turnaround at gemini.edu).

Gemini South

  • GMOS-S and F2 are available this cycle. Note that data reduction software for GMOS-S (with new CCDs) will likely not be available until mid-2024. 
  • F2 MOS is limited by the number of masks that can be inserted in the instrument and is not offered every FT cycle. It is offered in this cycle. Please read about its capabilities carefully. Since pre-images will be needed for most programs, F2 MOS targets are further restricted between RA 8 hr and 17.5 hr in this cycle.  Please contact the Fast Turnaround team before submission if you believe you will not need pre-imaging.  A maximum of 8 masks can be installed in the instrument.
  • GHOST is not offered for this cycle. 
  • IGRINS and Zorro are also available for some part of this cycle. Please check the instrument's schedule or contact the FT team in advance with any specific questions (Fast.Turnaround at gemini.edu).  If you require Zorro observations outside of the Zorro block, please check with the FT team ahead of proposal submission.
  • Make sure to check the 24A instrument schedule for detailed instrument availability.
  • GeMS/GSAOI are not offered via FT.

Both telescopes

  • FT observations may not be executed during classical observing, or priority visitor (PV), depending on the prevailing conditions.
  • For visiting instruments not listed above, please contact the FT team to check availability (Fast.Turnaround at gemini.edu).
  • The R600 grating in each GMOS instrument is NOT offered for FT (or regular queue) observations.
  • MOS observations are available for FT, subject to some caveats/restrictions.
  • As discussed in the rules and Q&A, please contact the Fast Turnaround team in advance of the deadline if you would like to propose for an unusual instrument configuration or observing mode.

Time available

  • At this point, no partners have used up their FT shares
  • Up to 17.7 (14.7) hrs per cycle at GN (GS) is available for FT observations. Very roughly, this implies:
    • 4 (3) hrs of 20%-ile conditions (IQ=20, for example; see this web page)
    • 9 (7.4) hrs of 50%-ile conditions
    • 12.4 (10.3) hrs of 70%-ile conditions
    • 15 (12.5) hrs of 85%-ile conditions
  • PIs may propose for up to the amount of time in their most restrictive observing conditions, subject to partner's time availability - see rule #4. For example, a proposal requesting CC50 IQ20 SB50 WVany conditions can request no more than 4 hrs of observing time.

PIT information

  • Proposals must be submitted using the version of the Phase I Tool specified on this web page
  • In the Time Requests tab, select "Fast Turnaround Observing at Gemini" as the proposal class and specify the reviewer (and mentor, if appropriate). Note that this is where the reviewer is defined; changes cannot be made after the proposal has been submitted.
  • For the pdf attachment to the proposal, the dedicated LaTeX/Word template specifically for FT proposals must be used.
  • Submitting the same proposal more than once during a given month (e.g. after correcting/editing a submitted version) should be avoided if at all possible. Only submit when you are sure your proposal is ready to be reviewed.

Only Gemini North is accepting proposals for the Fast Turnaround (FT) program in this call. Here, we give information specific to this proposal cycle. Please see the other FT pages - particularly the rules - for general information about the program. FT (dual anonymous)-specific proposal templates (GemPhaseI_FT_dual) must now be used for all FT proposals. See the "PIT information" section below. The 2023B PIT must be used.

Important dates

  • Proposal deadline: 12:00pm (NOON), Hawaiian Standard Time (HST), November 30.

  • Please ensure the latest version of the PIT is used for submission (see the PIT information below).
  • Reviews must be completed by 23:59 HST, December 14. If you have submitted a proposal, but by the 2nd of the month have not received an email from FT regarding reviewing proposals, contact FT as soon as possible.
  • Results will be announced by December 21, 2023.
  • The deadline for preparing observations (Phase II) is December 31. Accepted programs meeting this deadline will be active from 1 January until 31 March 2024.
  • FT observations will be merged with the queue and observed on queue nights.

Dual Anonymous Review Process (DARP)

  • Since Feb 2021, we have been using a dual anonymous review process. New proposal templates for FT have been updated. DARP compliance is mandatory. Proposals using the wrong template will be removed from consideration.  Proposals that do not follow all the DARP guidelines will either be removed from consideration or sent to the directorate for review.  
  • Guideline for PIs
    • Enter information of the proposing team with the Phase I Tool (PIT) as usual.
    • Use the FT specific template.
    • The proposal template has been updated to be compliant with DARP since Feb 1, 2021
    • Avoid mentioning names and affiliations of the team in the PDF attachment that could be used to identify the proposing team.
    • Avoid claiming ownership of past work. (E.g., “my successful Gemini program in the previous semester (GS-18A-xxx)”, or “our analysis shown in Doe et al. 2020…”)
    • Including text in proposals discussing previous use of Gemini is ok, as long as that work is not referenced and program IDs are not listed.
    • Cite references in passive third person, e.g., “Analysis shown in Doe et al. 2020”, including references to data and software.
    • Do describe the proposed work, e.g., “We propose to do the following…”, or “We will measure the effects of …”
    • Unpublished work can be referred to as “obtained in private communication” or “from private consultation”.
  • Guideline for Reviewers
    • Accept the assigned proposals based on abstracts whether you can provide an unbiased review or not.
    • Review proposals solely based on the scientific merit of what is proposed.
    • Do not spend any time attempting to identify the PI or the team. Even if you think you know, you can be wrong.
    • Utilize neutral pronouns (they/the PI/the team) when you write comments.
    • Flag the proposals that have not been sufficiently anonymized but DO NOT penalize them by lowering grades. (The FT support team will check the flagged proposals and send any violations to the Gemini Directorate for review.)  
  • More detailed guidelines can be found on the FT webpage

Eligibility

  • PIs from all participant countries (except Chile) taking part in the FT program may apply for this cycle.
  • Chile has withdrawn from Fast Turnaround since 2021A.
  • Japanese community PIs may submit proposals for this cycle.  In agreement with Subaru Observatory, Japanese community proposers may only apply for up to 4 hrs of time on a single proposal (and no more than 4hrs total will be awarded to Japanese community PIs in a cycle).  
  • PIs from participant countries whose FT time for the semester has been used up should not apply for the remainder of the semester. Note that some participant countries only have very small amounts of FT time available each semester. AR has only 2.2h available for this cycle at GN.  KR has only 2.3h remaining at GN. See Rule #4 and Q&A for more information.

Acceptable RA ranges

  • Gemini North: Targets from about RA = 0 hr to 19 hr are acceptable during this cycle. Note, however, that RAs near 0h will only be accessible for a couple hours during the first half of the first month (January) and only at northern declinations (Dec > 0) . Likewise, RAs near 19h will only be accessible for a couple hours during the final month (March) and again only in the above declination range. Note Rule #9; an FT program may not fully backload its three-month active period; at least one of its targets must be observable during its first active month.

Available instruments and observing modes

Gemini North

  • GMOS-N and GNIRS are expected to be available through the cycle.   
  • The 24A schedule is not yet available, please check back later in November or contact the FT team with any questions.
  • NIFS is expected to be on the telescope January 9-31.  
  • We are offering Altair in NGS mode only, with GNIRS and NIFS.
  • LGS is not offered this cycle.
  • We are not offering MAROON-X or Alopeke without knowing the detailed 24A schedule. This may be updated later in November.
  • Please contact the FT team in advance with any specific questions (Fast.Turnaround at gemini.edu).

  • FT observations may not be executed during classical observing, or priority visitor (PV), depending on the prevailing conditions.
  • For visiting instruments not listed above, please contact the FT team to check availability (Fast.Turnaround at gemini.edu).
  • The R600 grating in each GMOS instrument is NOT offered for FT (or regular queue) observations.
  • MOS observations are available for FT, subject to some caveats/restrictions.
  • As discussed in the rules and Q&A, please contact the Fast Turnaround team in advance of the deadline if you would like to propose for an unusual instrument configuration or observing mode.

Time available

  • Only Gemini North is being offered in this call, as the 23B FT time at Gemini South was reserved for the GHOST Shared Risk call.
  • At this point, no partners have used up their FT shares
  • Up to 19.0 hrs per cycle at GN is available for FT observations. Very roughly, this implies:

    • 4 hrs of 20%-ile conditions (IQ=20, for example; see this web page)
    • 10 hrs of 50%-ile conditions
    • 13.3 hrs of 70%-ile conditions
    • 16 hrs of 85%-ile conditions
  • PIs may propose for up to the amount of time in their most restrictive observing conditions, subject to partner's time availability - see rule #4. For example, a proposal requesting CC50 IQ20 SB50 WVany conditions can request no more than 4 hrs of observing time.

PIT information

  • Proposals must be submitted using the version of the Phase I Tool specified on this web page
  • In the Time Requests tab, select "Fast Turnaround Observing at Gemini" as the proposal class and specify the reviewer (and mentor, if appropriate). Note that this is where the reviewer is defined; changes cannot be made after the proposal has been submitted.
  • For the pdf attachment to the proposal, the dedicated LaTeX/Word template specifically for FT proposals must be used.
  • Submitting the same proposal more than once during a given month (e.g. after correcting/editing a submitted version) should be avoided if at all possible. Only submit when you are sure your proposal is ready to be reviewed.

Only Gemini North is accepting proposals for the Fast Turnaround (FT) program in this call. Here, we give information specific to this proposal cycle. Please see the other FT pages - particularly the rules - for general information about the program. FT (dual anonymous)-specific proposal templates (GemPhaseI_FT_dual) must now be used for all FT proposals. See the "PIT information" section below. The 2023B PIT must be used.

Important dates

  • Proposal deadline: 12:00pm (NOON), Hawaiian Standard Time (HST), October 31.

  • Please ensure the latest version of the PIT is used for submission (see the PIT information below).
  • Reviews must be completed by 23:59 HST, November 14. If you have submitted a proposal, but by the 2nd of the month have not received an email from FT regarding reviewing proposals, contact FT as soon as possible.
  • Results will be announced by November 21, 2023.
  • The deadline for preparing observations (Phase II) is November 30. Accepted programs meeting this deadline will be active from 1 December until 29 February 2023.
  • FT observations will be merged with the queue and observed on queue nights.

Dual Anonymous Review Process (DARP)

  • Since Feb 2021, we have been using a dual anonymous review process. New proposal templates for FT have been updated. DARP compliance is mandatory. Proposals using the wrong template will be removed from consideration.  Proposals that do not follow all the DARP guidelines will either be removed from consideration or sent to the directorate for review.  
  • Guideline for PIs
    • Enter information of the proposing team with the Phase I Tool (PIT) as usual.
    • Use the FT specific template.
    • The proposal template has been updated to be compliant with DARP since Feb 1, 2021
    • Avoid mentioning names and affiliations of the team in the PDF attachment that could be used to identify the proposing team.
    • Avoid claiming ownership of past work. (E.g., “my successful Gemini program in the previous semester (GS-18A-xxx)”, or “our analysis shown in Doe et al. 2020…”)
    • Including text in proposals discussing previous use of Gemini is ok, as long as that work is not referenced and program IDs are not listed.
    • Cite references in passive third person, e.g., “Analysis shown in Doe et al. 2020”, including references to data and software.
    • Do describe the proposed work, e.g., “We propose to do the following…”, or “We will measure the effects of …”
    • Unpublished work can be referred to as “obtained in private communication” or “from private consultation”.
  • Guideline for Reviewers
    • Accept the assigned proposals based on abstracts whether you can provide an unbiased review or not.
    • Review proposals solely based on the scientific merit of what is proposed.
    • Do not spend any time attempting to identify the PI or the team. Even if you think you know, you can be wrong.
    • Utilize neutral pronouns (they/the PI/the team) when you write comments.
    • Flag the proposals that have not been sufficiently anonymized but DO NOT penalize them by lowering grades. (The FT support team will check the flagged proposals and send any violations to the Gemini Directorate for review.)  
  • More detailed guidelines can be found on the FT webpage

Eligibility

  • PIs from all participant countries (except Chile) taking part in the FT program may apply for this cycle.
  • Chile has withdrawn from Fast Turnaround since 2021A.
  • Japanese community PIs may submit proposals for this cycle.  In agreement with Subaru Observatory, Japanese community proposers may only apply for up to 4 hrs of time on a single proposal (and no more than 4hrs total will be awarded to Japanese community PIs in a cycle).  
  • PIs from participant countries whose FT time for the semester has been used up should not apply for the remainder of the semester. Note that some participant countries only have very small amounts of FT time available each semester. AR has only 2.2h available for this cycle at GN.  KR has only 2.3h remaining at GN. See Rule #4 and Q&A for more information.

Acceptable RA ranges

  • Gemini North: Targets from about RA = 22.5 hr to 16 hr are acceptable during this cycle. Note, however, that RAs near 22.5h will only be accessible for a couple hours during the first half of the first month (December) and only at northern declinations (Dec > 0) . Likewise, RAs near 16h will only be accessible for a couple hours during the final month (February) and again only in the above declination range. Note Rule #9; an FT program may not fully backload its three-month active period; at least one of its targets must be observable during its first active month.

Available instruments and observing modes

Gemini North

  • GMOS-N (available from December 1 - January 31 in 23B), GNIRS (available from December 1 - January 31 in 23B), and MAROON-X (available from December 4 - January 2 in 23B) are offered this cycle.
  • The 24A schedule is not yet available, but we expect that GMOS-N and GNIRS to be available in February.
  • Alopeke is only available for a few nights this cycle (from December 1 - 3).
  • We are not currently offering Altair.
  • Make sure to check the 23B schedule (available soon) for detailed instrument availability.
  • Please contact the FT team in advance with any specific questions (Fast.Turnaround at gemini.edu).

  • FT observations may not be executed during classical observing, or priority visitor (PV), depending on the prevailing conditions.
  • For visiting instruments not listed above, please contact the FT team to check availability (Fast.Turnaround at gemini.edu).
  • The R600 grating in each GMOS instrument is NOT offered for FT (or regular queue) observations.
  • MOS observations are available for FT, subject to some caveats/restrictions.
  • As discussed in the rules and Q&A, please contact the Fast Turnaround team in advance of the deadline if you would like to propose for an unusual instrument configuration or observing mode.

Time available

  • Only Gemini North is being offered in this call, as the FT time at Gemini South is reserved for the GHOST Shared Risk call.
  • At this point, no partners have used up their FT shares
  • Up to 19.0 hrs per cycle at GN is available for FT observations. Very roughly, this implies:

    • 4 hrs of 20%-ile conditions (IQ=20, for example; see this web page)
    • 10 hrs of 50%-ile conditions
    • 13.3 hrs of 70%-ile conditions
    • 16 hrs of 85%-ile conditions
  • PIs may propose for up to the amount of time in their most restrictive observing conditions, subject to partner's time availability - see rule #4. For example, a proposal requesting CC50 IQ20 SB50 WVany conditions can request no more than 4 hrs of observing time.

PIT information

  • Proposals must be submitted using the version of the Phase I Tool specified on this web page
  • In the Time Requests tab, select "Fast Turnaround Observing at Gemini" as the proposal class and specify the reviewer (and mentor, if appropriate). Note that this is where the reviewer is defined; changes cannot be made after the proposal has been submitted.
  • For the pdf attachment to the proposal, the dedicated LaTeX/Word template specifically for FT proposals must be used: tex | sty | doc. This is compulsory for all FT proposals.
  • Submitting the same proposal more than once during a given month (e.g. after correcting/editing a submitted version) should be avoided if at all possible. Only submit when you are sure your proposal is ready to be reviewed.

Special note:   This call is for 23B GHOST Shared Risk at Gemini South only.  No other instruments are being offered in this FT call.  Note that GHOST is also being offered in regular queue for 24A.

Gemini South is accepting proposals this round for GHOST in Shared Risk mode through the Fast Turnaround (FT) program. We are not offering any other instruments in this FT round. Here, we give information specific to this FT proposal cycle. Please see the other FT pages - particularly the rules - for general information about the program. FT Dual anonymous-specific proposal templates (GemPhaseI_FT_dual) must now be used for all FT proposals. See the "PIT information" section below. The latest 2023B PIT must be used for this 23B special call.

Important dates

  • Proposal deadline: 12:00pm (NOON), Hawaiian Standard Time (HST), September 30.

  • Please ensure the correct version of the PIT is used for submission (see the PIT information below).  
  • Reviews must be completed by 23:59 HST, October 14. If you have submitted a proposal, but by the 2nd of the month have not received an email from FT regarding reviewing proposals, contact FT (Fast.Turnaround at gemini.edu) as soon as possible.
  • Results will be announced ~ November 1, 2023.
  • The deadline for preparing observations (Phase II) is November 15. 
  • Observations will be conducted during the GHOST Shared Risk run, which is planned for 30 November - 19 December 2023.

Dual Anonymous Review Process (DARP)

Since Feb 2021, we have been using a dual anonymous review process. New proposal templates for FT have been updated. DARP compliance is mandatory. Proposals using the wrong template will be removed from consideration.  Proposals that do not follow all the DARP guidelines will either be removed from consideration or sent to the directorate for review.  

Guideline for PIs

  • Enter information of the proposing team with the Phase I Tool (PIT) as usual.
  • Use the FT specific template.
  • The proposal template has been updated to be compliant with DARP since Feb 1, 2021
  • Avoid mentioning names and affiliations of the team in the PDF attachment that could be used to identify the proposing team.
  • Avoid claiming ownership of past work. (E.g., “my successful Gemini program in the previous semester (GS-18A-xxx)”, or “our analysis shown in Doe et al. 2020…”)
  • Including text in proposals discussing previous use of Gemini is ok, as long as that work is not referenced and program IDs are not listed.
  • Cite references in passive third person, e.g., “Analysis shown in Doe et al. 2020”, including references to data and software.
  • Do describe the proposed work, e.g., “We propose to do the following…”, or “We will measure the effects of …”
  • Unpublished work can be referred to as “obtained in private communication” or “from private consultation”.

Guideline for Reviewers

  • Accept the assigned proposals based on abstracts whether you can provide an unbiased review or not.
  • Review proposals solely based on the scientific merit of what is proposed.
  • Do not spend any time attempting to identify the PI or the team. Even if you think you know, you can be wrong.
  • Utilize neutral pronouns (they/the PI/the team) when you write comments.
  • Flag the proposals that have not been sufficiently anonymized but DO NOT penalize them by lowering grades. (The FT support team will check the flagged proposals and send any violations to the Gemini Directorate for review.)  

More detailed guidelines can be found on the FT webpage

Eligibility

  • PIs from all participant countries taking part in the GHOST Shared Risk special call may apply for this cycle (see below).
  • Chile has time allocated for this special GHOST Shared Risk call.
  • Japanese community PIs may not submit proposals for this special call.
  • Time Available for GHOST in shared risk:
    • US 38.1h
    • CA 10.05h
    • AR 0.9h
    • BR 3.6h
    • KR 2.35h
    • CL 6.3h
    • UH (PIs have access through the US time)

Acceptable RA ranges

  • Targets from about RA = 22.5 hr to12 hr are acceptable during this cycle for the GHOST run in December.

Available instruments and observing modes

  • Only GHOST in Shared Risk mode at Gemini South is being offered in this call.
  • GHOST modes available:
    • Standard-resolution mode
    • High-resolution mode
    • All binning and target configurations
  • Not offered:
    • Non-sidereal targets
    • Faint targets which require blind offset acquisition (V > 19 mag)
    • Precision radial velocity mode (i.e. the internal wavelength calibration source)
  • Other notes:

Time available (GS, GHOST Shared Risk)

  • See partner distributions above.
  • A total of 61.3h will be awarded, and 20% (12.2hrs) of this time will be awarded in Band 3. Note that proposals will be submitted as Fast Turnaround in the PIT and it will not be possible to choose Band 3 consideration. Selection for Band 3 will be based on ranking and conditions requested. Programs requiring good conditions will not be considered for Band 3.
  • Of the total 61.3h, very roughly we will award no more than:
    • 12.2 hrs of 20%-ile conditions (IQ=20, for example; see this web page)
    • 30.5 hrs of 50%-ile conditions
    • 43 hrs of 70%-ile conditions
    • 52 hrs of 85%-ile conditions

PIT information

  • Proposals must be submitted using the 23B Phase I Tool (v2.2.0)
  • This 23B special call and the 24A semester call require different versions of the PIT.  If applying for time through both calls, you will need both versions of the PIT.
  • In the Time Requests tab, select "Fast Turnaround Observing at Gemini" as the proposal class and specify the reviewer (and mentor, if appropriate). Note that this is where the reviewer is defined; changes cannot be made after the proposal has been submitted.
  • For the pdf attachment to the proposal, the dedicated LaTeX/Word template specifically for FT proposals must be used: 23B tex | sty | doc. This is compulsory for all FT proposals.
  • Submitting the same proposal more than once during a given month (e.g. after correcting/editing a submitted version) should be avoided if at all possible. Only submit when you are sure your proposal is ready to be reviewed.

Gemini North and South are accepting proposals for the Fast Turnaround (FT) program. Here, we give information specific to this proposal cycle. Please see the other FT pages - particularly the rules - for general information about the program. FT (dual anonymous)-specific proposal templates (GemPhaseI_FT_dual) must now be used for all FT proposals. See the "PIT information" section below. The 2023B PIT must be used.

Important dates

  • Proposal deadline: 12:00pm (NOON), Hawaiian Standard Time (HST), July 31.

  • Please ensure the latest version of the PIT is used for submission (see the PIT information below).
  • Reviews must be completed by 23:59 HST, Aug 14. If you have submitted a proposal, but by the 2nd of the month have not received an email from FT regarding reviewing proposals, contact FT as soon as possible.
  • Results will be announced by Aug 21, 2023.
  • The deadline for preparing observations (Phase II) is Aug 31. Accepted programs meeting this deadline will be active from 1 September until 30 November 2023.
  • FT observations will be merged with the queue and observed on queue nights.

Dual Anonymous Review Process (DARP)

  • Since Feb 2021, we have been using a dual anonymous review process. New proposal templates for FT have been updated. DARP compliance is mandatory. Proposals using the wrong template will be removed from consideration.  Proposals that do not follow all the DARP guidelines will either be removed from consideration or sent to the directorate for review.  
  • Guideline for PIs
    • Enter information of the proposing team with the Phase I Tool (PIT) as usual.
    • Use the FT specific template.
    • The proposal template has been updated to be compliant with DARP since Feb 1, 2021
    • Avoid mentioning names and affiliations of the team in the PDF attachment that could be used to identify the proposing team.
    • Avoid claiming ownership of past work. (E.g., “my successful Gemini program in the previous semester (GS-18A-xxx)”, or “our analysis shown in Doe et al. 2020…”)
    • Including text in proposals discussing previous use of Gemini is ok, as long as that work is not referenced and program IDs are not listed.
    • Cite references in passive third person, e.g., “Analysis shown in Doe et al. 2020”, including references to data and software.
    • Do describe the proposed work, e.g., “We propose to do the following…”, or “We will measure the effects of …”
    • Unpublished work can be referred to as “obtained in private communication” or “from private consultation”.
  • Guideline for Reviewers
    • Accept the assigned proposals based on abstracts whether you can provide an unbiased review or not.
    • Review proposals solely based on the scientific merit of what is proposed.
    • Do not spend any time attempting to identify the PI or the team. Even if you think you know, you can be wrong.
    • Utilize neutral pronouns (they/the PI/the team) when you write comments.
    • Flag the proposals that have not been sufficiently anonymized but DO NOT penalize them by lowering grades. (The FT support team will check the flagged proposals and send any violations to the Gemini Directorate for review.)  
  • More detailed guidelines can be found on the FT webpage

Eligibility

  • PIs from all participant countries (except Chile) taking part in the FT program may apply for this cycle.
  • Chile has withdrawn from Fast Turnaround since 2021A.
  • Japanese community PIs may submit proposals for this cycle.  In agreement with Subaru Observatory, Japanese community proposers may only apply for up to 4 hrs of time on a single proposal (and no more than 4hrs total will be awarded to Japanese community PIs in a cycle).  
  • PIs from participant countries whose FT time for the semester has been used up should not apply for the remainder of the semester. Note that some participant countries only have very small amounts of FT time available each semester. AR has only 2.2h (0.9h) available for this cycle at GN (GS).  KR has only 2.3h remaining at GN.  Note that for GS, all partners have only half of their standard FT time available, as the other half will be used for the special Shared Risk GHOST call later in the semester (see below).  See Rule #4 and Q&A for more information.

Acceptable RA ranges

  • Gemini North: Gemini North: Targets from about RA = 16.5 hr to 10.5 hr are acceptable during this cycle. Note, however, that RAs near 16.5h will only be accessible for a couple hours during the first half of the first month (September) and only at northern declinations (Dec> 0) . Likewise, RAs near 10.5h will only be accessible for a couple hours during the final month (November) and again only in the above declination range. Note Rule #9; an FT program may not fully backload its three-month active period; at least one of its targets must be observable during its first active month.
  • Gemini South: Targets from about RA = 16 hr to 10 hr are acceptable during this cycle. Note that RAs near 16h will only be accessible for a couple hours during the first half of the first month (September) and only at favorable declinations (Dec< 0) . Likewise, RAs near 10h will only be accessible for a couple hours during the final month (November) and again only in the above declination range. Note Rule #9; an FT program may not fully backload its three-month active period; at least one of its targets must be observable during its first active month.

Available instruments and observing modes

Gemini North

  • GMOS-N, GNIRS, and MAROON-X are offered this cycle.  
  • Alopeke is only available for a few nights this cycle.
  • We are not currently offering Altair.
  • Make sure to check the 23B schedule for detailed instrument availability.
  • Please contact the FT team in advance with any specific questions (Fast.Turnaround at gemini.edu).

Gemini South

  • GMOS-S and F2 are available this cycle.
  • IGRINS and Zorro will also be available for some parts of this cycle, but please contact the FT team in advance with any specific questions (Fast.Turnaround at gemini.edu).  
  • Gemini South will be closed for a telescope shutdown for a period in Sept-Oct.
  • F2 MOS is limited by the number of masks that can be inserted in the instrument and is not offered every FT cycle. It is offered in this cycle. Please read about its capabilities carefully. Since pre-images will be needed for most programs, F2 MOS targets are further restricted between RA 20 hr and 7 hr in this cycle.  Please contact the Fast Turnaround team before submission if you believe you will not need pre-imaging.  A maximum of 8 masks can be installed in the instrument.  
  • Please check the 23B schedule for the detailed telescope/instrument availability.
  • GeMS/GSAOI are not offered via FT.

Both telescopes

  • FT observations may not be executed during classical observing, or priority visitor (PV), depending on the prevailing conditions.
  • For visiting instruments not listed above, please contact the FT team to check availability (Fast.Turnaround at gemini.edu).
  • The R600 grating in each GMOS instrument is NOT offered for FT (or regular queue) observations.
  • MOS observations are available for FT, subject to some caveats/restrictions.
  • As discussed in the rules and Q&A, please contact the Fast Turnaround team in advance of the deadline if you would like to propose for an unusual instrument configuration or observing mode.

Time available

  • At this point, no partners have used up their FT shares
  • Note that for Gemini South, only half the regular FT time is available as the other half is reserved for the GHOST Shared Risk call, which will be issued on ~September 1 (for Nov-Dec-Jan).
  • Up to 19.0 (14.7) hrs per cycle at GN (GS) is available for FT observations. Very roughly, this implies:

    • 4 (3) hrs of 20%-ile conditions (IQ=20, for example; see this web page)
    • 10 (7.3) hrs of 50%-ile conditions
    • 13.3 (10.3) hrs of 70%-ile conditions
    • 16 (12.5) hrs of 85%-ile conditions
  • PIs may propose for up to the amount of time in their most restrictive observing conditions, subject to partner's time availability - see rule #4. For example, a proposal requesting CC50 IQ20 SB50 WVany conditions can request no more than 4 (3) hrs of observing time at a single telescope.

PIT information

  • Proposals must be submitted using the version of the Phase I Tool specified on this web page
  • In the Time Requests tab, select "Fast Turnaround Observing at Gemini" as the proposal class and specify the reviewer (and mentor, if appropriate). Note that this is where the reviewer is defined; changes cannot be made after the proposal has been submitted.
  • For the pdf attachment to the proposal, the dedicated LaTeX/Word template specifically for FT proposals must be used: tex | sty | doc. This is compulsory for all FT proposals.
  • Submitting the same proposal more than once during a given month (e.g. after correcting/editing a submitted version) should be avoided if at all possible. Only submit when you are sure your proposal is ready to be reviewed.

Gemini North and South are accepting proposals for the Fast Turnaround (FT) program. Here, we give information specific to this proposal cycle. Please see the other FT pages - particularly the rules - for general information about the program. FT (dual anonymous)-specific proposal templates (GemPhaseI_FT_dual) must now be used for all FT proposals. See the "PIT information" section below. The 2023B PIT must be used.

Important dates

  • Proposal deadline: 12:00pm (NOON), Hawaiian Standard Time (HST), June 30.

  • Please ensure the latest version of the PIT is used for submission (see the PIT information below).
  • Reviews must be completed by 23:59 HST, July 14. If you have submitted a proposal, but by the 2nd of the month have not received an email from FT regarding reviewing proposals, contact FT as soon as possible.
  • Results will be announced by July 21, 2023.
  • The deadline for preparing observations (Phase II) is July 31. Accepted programs meeting this deadline will be active from 1 August until 31 October 2023.
  • FT observations will be merged with the queue and observed on queue nights.

Dual Anonymous Review Process (DARP)

  • Since Feb 2021, we have been using a dual anonymous review process. New proposal templates for FT have been updated. DARP compliance is mandatory. Proposals using the wrong template will be removed from consideration.  Proposals that do not follow all the DARP guidelines will either be removed from consideration or sent to the directorate for review.  
  • Guideline for PIs
    • Enter information of the proposing team with the Phase I Tool (PIT) as usual.
    • Use the FT specific template.
    • The proposal template has been updated to be compliant with DARP since Feb 1, 2021
    • Avoid mentioning names and affiliations of the team in the PDF attachment that could be used to identify the proposing team.
    • Avoid claiming ownership of past work. (E.g., “my successful Gemini program in the previous semester (GS-18A-xxx)”, or “our analysis shown in Doe et al. 2020…”)
    • Including text in proposals discussing previous use of Gemini is ok, as long as that work is not referenced and program IDs are not listed.
    • Cite references in passive third person, e.g., “Analysis shown in Doe et al. 2020”, including references to data and software.
    • Do describe the proposed work, e.g., “We propose to do the following…”, or “We will measure the effects of …”
    • Unpublished work can be referred to as “obtained in private communication” or “from private consultation”.
  • Guideline for Reviewers
    • Accept the assigned proposals based on abstracts whether you can provide an unbiased review or not.
    • Review proposals solely based on the scientific merit of what is proposed.
    • Do not spend any time attempting to identify the PI or the team. Even if you think you know, you can be wrong.
    • Utilize neutral pronouns (they/the PI/the team) when you write comments.
    • Flag the proposals that have not been sufficiently anonymized but DO NOT penalize them by lowering grades. (The FT support team will check the flagged proposals and send any violations to the Gemini Directorate for review.)  
  • More detailed guidelines can be found on the FT webpage

Eligibility

  • PIs from all participant countries (except Chile) taking part in the FT program may apply for this cycle.
  • Chile has withdrawn from Fast Turnaround since 2021A.
  • Japanese community PIs may not submit proposals for this cycle.  In agreement with Subaru Observatory, starting with the September 2021 CfP, Japanese community proposers may only apply for up to 4 hrs of time on a single proposal (and no more than 4hrs total will be awarded to Japanese community PIs in a cycle) and only on odd numbered cycles. Japanese proposals will only be accepted in Call for Proposals for months: Jan/Mar/May/July/Sep/Nov.  
  • PIs from participant countries whose FT time for the semester has been used up should not apply for the remainder of the semester. Note that some participant countries only have very small amounts of FT time available each semester. AR has only 2.2h (0.9h) available for this cycle at GN (GS).  Note that for GS, all partners have only half of their standard FT time available, as the other half will be used for the special Shared Risk GHOST call later in the semester (see below).  See Rule #4 and Q&A for more information.

Acceptable RA ranges

  • Gemini North: Gemini North: Targets from about RA = 15 hr to 8 hr are acceptable during this cycle. Note, however, that RAs near 15h will only be accessible for a couple hours during the first half of the first month (August) and only at northern declinations (Dec> 0) . Likewise, RAs near 8h will only be accessible for a couple hours during the final month (October) and again only in the above declination range. Note Rule #9; an FT program may not fully backload its three-month active period; at least one of its targets must be observable during its first active month.
  • Gemini South: Targets from about RA = 14.5  hr to 7.5 hr are acceptable during this cycle. Note that RAs near 14.5h will only be accessible for a couple hours during the first half of the first month (August) and only at favorable declinations (Dec< 0) . Likewise, RAs near 7.5h will only be accessible for a couple hours during the final month (October) and again only in the above declination range. Note Rule #9; an FT program may not fully backload its three-month active period; at least one of its targets must be observable during its first active month.

Available instruments and observing modes

Gemini North

  • GMOS-N, GNIRS, NIFS, Alopeke, MAROON-X, GRACES and NIRI are all available for some period this cycle.  
  • GNIRS will not be available in August.
  • We are not currently offering Altair.
  • In order to select NIRI or GRACES in the 23B PIT, choose Visitor instrument and type in the instrument name.
  • Make sure to check the 23B schedule for detailed instrument availability.
  • Please contact the FT team in advance with any specific questions (Fast.Turnaround at gemini.edu).

Gemini South

  • GMOS-S and F2 are available this cycle. GMOS-S is expected to be unavailable for a period in August.  Please check the instrument schedule for detailed availability.
  • IGRINS and Zorro will also be available for some parts of this cycle, but please contact the FT team in advance with any specific questions (Fast.Turnaround at gemini.edu).  
  • Gemini South will be closed for a telescope shutdown for a period in Sept-Oct.
  • F2 MOS is limited by the number of masks that can be inserted in the instrument and is not offered every FT cycle. It is offered in this cycle. Please read about its capabilities carefully. Since pre-images will be needed for most programs, F2 MOS targets are further restricted between RA 16 hr and 2.5 hr in this cycle.  Please contact the Fast Turnaround team before submission if you believe you will not need pre-imaging.  A maximum of 8 masks can be installed in the instrument.  
  • Please check the 23B schedule for the detailed telescope/instrument availability.
  • GeMS/GSAOI are not offered via FT.

Both telescopes

  • FT observations may not be executed during classical observing, or priority visitor (PV), depending on the prevailing conditions.
  • For visiting instruments not listed above, please contact the FT team to check availability (Fast.Turnaround at gemini.edu).
  • The R600 grating in each GMOS instrument is NOT offered for FT (or regular queue) observations.
  • MOS observations are available for FT, subject to some caveats/restrictions.
  • As discussed in the rules and Q&A, please contact the Fast Turnaround team in advance of the deadline if you would like to propose for an unusual instrument configuration or observing mode.

Time available

  • This is the first CfP for the 23B semester, so all members have their regular time available.
  • However, for Gemini South, only half the regular FT time is available as the other half is reserved for the GHOST Shared Risk call, which will be issued on ~September 1 (for Nov-Dec-Jan).
  • Up to 19.0 (14.7) hrs per cycle at GN (GS) is available for FT observations. Very roughly, this implies:

    • 4 (3) hrs of 20%-ile conditions (IQ=20, for example; see this web page)
    • 10 (7.3) hrs of 50%-ile conditions
    • 13.3 (10.3) hrs of 70%-ile conditions
    • 16 (12.5) hrs of 85%-ile conditions
  • PIs may propose for up to the amount of time in their most restrictive observing conditions, subject to partner's time availability - see rule #4. For example, a proposal requesting CC50 IQ20 SB50 WVany conditions can request no more than 4 (3) hrs of observing time at a single telescope.

PIT information

  • Proposals must be submitted using the version of the Phase I Tool specified on this web page
  • In the Time Requests tab, select "Fast Turnaround Observing at Gemini" as the proposal class and specify the reviewer (and mentor, if appropriate). Note that this is where the reviewer is defined; changes cannot be made after the proposal has been submitted.
  • For the pdf attachment to the proposal, the dedicated LaTeX/Word template specifically for FT proposals must be used: tex | sty | doc. This is compulsory for all FT proposals.
  • Submitting the same proposal more than once during a given month (e.g. after correcting/editing a submitted version) should be avoided if at all possible. Only submit when you are sure your proposal is ready to be reviewed.

Gemini South is accepting proposals for the Fast Turnaround (FT) program.  We are not currently accepting proposals for Gemini North.   Here, we give information specific to this proposal cycle. Please see the other FT pages - particularly the rules - for general information about the program. FT (dual anonymous)-specific proposal templates (GemPhaseI_FT_dual) must now be used for all FT proposals. See the "PIT information" section below. The 2023B PIT must be used.

Important dates

  • Proposal deadline: 12:00pm (NOON), Hawaiian Standard Time (HST), May 31.

  • Please ensure the latest version of the PIT is used for submission (see the PIT information below).
  • Reviews must be completed by 23:59 HST, June 14. If you have submitted a proposal, but by the 2nd of the month have not received an email from FT regarding reviewing proposals, contact FT as soon as possible.
  • Results will be announced by June 21, 2023.
  • The deadline for preparing observations (Phase II) is June 30. Accepted programs meeting this deadline will be active from 1 July until 30 September 2023.
  • FT observations will be merged with the queue and observed on queue nights.

Dual Anonymous Review Process (DARP)

  • Since Feb 2021, we have been using a dual anonymous review process. New proposal templates for FT have been updated. DARP compliance is mandatory. Proposals using the wrong template will be removed from consideration.  Proposals that do not follow all the DARP guidelines will either be removed from consideration or sent to the directorate for review.  
  • Guideline for PIs
    • Enter information of the proposing team with the Phase I Tool (PIT) as usual.
    • Use the FT specific template.
    • The proposal template has been updated to be compliant with DARP since Feb 1, 2021
    • Avoid mentioning names and affiliations of the team in the PDF attachment that could be used to identify the proposing team.
    • Avoid claiming ownership of past work. (E.g., “my successful Gemini program in the previous semester (GS-18A-xxx)”, or “our analysis shown in Doe et al. 2020…”)
    • Including text in proposals discussing previous use of Gemini is ok, as long as that work is not referenced and program IDs are not listed.
    • Cite references in passive third person, e.g., “Analysis shown in Doe et al. 2020”, including references to data and software.
    • Do describe the proposed work, e.g., “We propose to do the following…”, or “We will measure the effects of …”
    • Unpublished work can be referred to as “obtained in private communication” or “from private consultation”.
  • Guideline for Reviewers
    • Accept the assigned proposals based on abstracts whether you can provide an unbiased review or not.
    • Review proposals solely based on the scientific merit of what is proposed.
    • Do not spend any time attempting to identify the PI or the team. Even if you think you know, you can be wrong.
    • Utilize neutral pronouns (they/the PI/the team) when you write comments.
    • Flag the proposals that have not been sufficiently anonymized but DO NOT penalize them by lowering grades. (The FT support team will check the flagged proposals and send any violations to the Gemini Directorate for review.)  
  • More detailed guidelines can be found on the FT webpage

Eligibility

  • PIs from all participant countries (except Chile) taking part in the FT program may apply for this cycle.
  • Chile has withdrawn from Fast Turnaround since 2021A.
  • Japanese community PIs may submit proposals for this cycle.  In agreement with Subaru Observatory, starting with the September 2021 CfP, Japanese community proposers may only apply for up to 4 hrs of time on a single proposal (and no more than 4hrs total will be awarded to Japanese community PIs in a cycle) and only on odd numbered cycles. Japanese proposals will only be accepted in Call for Proposals for months: Jan/Mar/May/July/Sep/Nov.  
  • PIs from participant countries whose FT time for the semester has been used up should not apply for the remainder of the semester. At this point, BR has used up its time for 23A. AR has only 2.2h available at GS for 23A. Note that some participant countries only have very small amounts of FT time available each semester.  See Rule #4 and Q&A for more information.

Acceptable RA ranges

  • Gemini North: N/A
  • Gemini South: Targets from about RA = 11.5 hr to 6.5 hr are acceptable during this cycle. Note that RAs near 11.5h will only be accessible for a couple hours during the first half of the first month (July) and only at favorable declinations (Dec< 0) . Likewise, RAs near 6.5h will only be accessible for a couple hours during the final month (September) and again only in the above declination range. Note Rule #9; an FT program may not fully backload its three-month active period; at least one of its targets must be observable during its first active month.

Available instruments and observing modes

Gemini North

  • N/A

Gemini South

  • GMOS-S and F2 are available this cycle.  GMOS-S is expected to be unavailable for at least the first half of July.  
  • IGRINS and Zorro will also be available for some parts of this cycle, but please contact the FT team in advance with any specific questions (Fast.Turnaround at gemini.edu).  
  • F2 MOS is limited by the number of masks that can be inserted in the instrument and is not offered every FT cycle. It is offered in this cycle. Please read about its capabilities carefully. Since pre-images will be needed for most programs, F2 MOS targets are further restricted between RA 16 hr and 2.5 hr in this cycle.  Please contact the Fast Turnaround team before submission if you believe you will not need pre-imaging.  A maximum of 8 masks can be installed in the instrument.  
  • Make sure to check the 23A instrument schedule for the detailed availabilities, including for GMOS-S.  The 23B instrument schedule (for August-Sept) is not yet available but it is expected that GMOS-S and F2 will be available.  
  • GeMS/GSAOI are not offered via FT.

Both telescopes

  • FT observations may not be executed during classical observing, or priority visitor (PV), depending on the prevailing conditions.
  • For visiting instruments not listed above, please contact the FT team to check availability (Fast.Turnaround at gemini.edu).
  • The R600 grating in each GMOS instrument is NOT offered for FT (or regular queue) observations.
  • MOS observations are available for FT, subject to some caveats/restrictions.
  • As discussed in the rules and Q&A, please contact the Fast Turnaround team in advance of the deadline if you would like to propose for an unusual instrument configuration or observing mode.

Time available

  • Up to 20 (17.5) hrs per cycle at GN (GS) is available for FT observations. Very roughly, this implies:

    • 4 (3.5) hrs of 20%-ile conditions (IQ=20, for example; see this web page)
    • 10 (9) hrs of 50%-ile conditions
    • 14 (12) hrs of 70%-ile conditions
    • 17 (15) hrs of 85%-ile conditions
  • PIs may propose for up to the amount of time in their most restrictive observing conditions, subject to partner's time availability - see rule #4. For example, a proposal requesting CC50 IQ20 SB50 WVany conditions can request no more than 4 (3.5) hrs of observing time at a single telescope.

PIT information

  • Proposals must be submitted using the version of the Phase I Tool specified on this web page
  • In the Time Requests tab, select "Fast Turnaround Observing at Gemini" as the proposal class and specify the reviewer (and mentor, if appropriate). Note that this is where the reviewer is defined; changes cannot be made after the proposal has been submitted.
  • For the pdf attachment to the proposal, the dedicated LaTeX/Word template specifically for FT proposals must be used: tex | sty | doc. This is compulsory for all FT proposals.
  • Submitting the same proposal more than once during a given month (e.g. after correcting/editing a submitted version) should be avoided if at all possible. Only submit when you are sure your proposal is ready to be reviewed.

Pages

FT Call for Proposals | Gemini Observatory

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