All Observing Hours

All Observing Hours = Actual hours of time in all categories: Scheduled, Maintenance, Test, Unscheduled, or Shutdown.

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Scheduled: Planned hours of observing time for peer-reviewed science proposals.

Scheduled = [ Astronomy + Downtime ]

Astronomy: Actual hours of VLA and ALMA observing time for peer-reviewed science proposals.
Downtime: Hours lost during scheduled observing time for peer-reviewed science proposals.
Maintenance: Actual hours of scheduled service of infrastructure, structure, electronics, and software.
Test: Actual hours of test observations rather than peer-reviewed science proposals.
Unscheduled: Actual idle hours owing to gaps between observing programs that cannot be scheduled and to extended inclement weather.
Shutdown: Actual shutdown hours, usually for a holiday or major equipment work.

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory and Green Bank Observatory are facilities of the U.S. National Science Foundation operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.

Founded in 1956, the NRAO provides state-of-the-art radio telescope facilities for use by the international scientific community. NRAO telescopes are open to all astronomers regardless of institutional or national affiliation. Observing time on NRAO telescopes is available on a competitive basis to qualified scientists after evaluation of research proposals on the basis of scientific merit, the capability of the instruments to do the work, and the availability of the telescope during the requested time. NRAO also provides both formal and informal programs in education and public outreach for teachers, students, the general public, and the media.

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The National Radio Astronomy Observatory and Green Bank Observatory are facilities of the U.S. National Science Foundation operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.