Continuing Opportunity: Joint Observations with Chandra X-ray Observatory

In previous semesters, the community has had the opportunity to propose for observing time on NRAO facilities through a joint program with the Chandra X-ray Observatory. For Chandra, proposals must be for observations that require both Chandra pointing and NRAO observations to carry out a scientific investigation. The NRAO has allocated up to 3% of the observing time on the VLA, the VLBA and the GBT for Chandra joint proposals. Section 4.4.5 of the Cycle 17 Chandra call for proposals gives specifics of the joint NRAO/Chandra program. The last Chandra proposal deadline was 17 March 2015. The call for Cycle 18 proposals will be issued in December 2015, with proposals due in March 2016.

The NRAO would like to alert the community to the fact that, beginning in semester 2016A, which covers NRAO observations from February to August 2016, proposers to the NRAO will have the opportunity to request time on Chandra, to be awarded on the recommendation of the NRAO TAC and approved by the NRAO Director. Up to 120 ksec will be made available to NRAO proposers annually.

Chandra as Primary Observatory: NRAO observing time awarded through the Chandra Cycle 17 review will be implemented during the 2015B, 2016A, and 2016B observing semesters. The award of time on NRAO facilities will be subject to approval by the NRAO Director, after technical review and a nominal review by the NRAO TAC to avoid duplication of programs. The important additional criterion for the award of NRAO time is that both the Chandra and the radio data are required to meet the science goals of the project. Proposed NRAO and Chandra observations are not required to be coordinated or simultaneous. Under this agreement, NRAO time will only be awarded in conjunction with new Chandra observations (and should not be proposed for in conjunction with an Archival Research or Theory Proposal).

NRAO as Primary Observatory: Chandra time awarded through the NRAO TAC will be implemented during the course of Chandra Cycle 17.  Proposals submitted to the NRAO requesting Chandra time must indicate that the proposal is joint with Chandra. Furthermore, the proposal must briefly justify for each target the number of kiloseconds, and the Chandra instrument and observing mode requested. The important additional criterion for the award of Chandra time is that both Chandra X-ray and radio data are required to meet the science goals of the project. Proposed NRAO and Chandra observations are not required to be coordinated or simultaneous. Programs requesting Chandra time will be subject to basic technical review prior to the NRAO TAC meeting. No Chandra TOOs can be awarded through this program.

The PIs of successful programs with Chandra as the primary observatory will be contacted by NRAO science operations. Successful PIs of programs with NRAO as the primary observatory will be contacted by Chandra science operations. Successful proposers will submit Chandra Cost proposals at the standard deadline (September 2016). Funding will be available to US investigators to support Chandra data reduction.



Connect with NRAO

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.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 "to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense..."

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