New Visitor Instruments

This page describes the process and guidelines for proposals for new instruments (new means new to ING; the instrument may already have been used at other observatories) being accepted and given time on our telescopes.

Applicants should be aware that due to scheduling or operational constraints there may be instances when a well-regarded programme does not get telescope time. Also, with new instruments there is the requirement to assess the resources and overheads required to commission them. It is therefore necessary to have completed the technical appraisal form at the time of your submission. Failure to do so may mean your programme does not get scheduled.

Submission Deadlines

Detailed information on proposal deadlines, and how to submit a proposal, are linked from the Applying for Telescope Time page. The deadlines for NL and UK proposal submission are usually in mid-March for B Semesters, and mid-September for A Semesters, and the deadline for CAT proposals is early-April for B Semesters, and early-October for A Semesters.

PIs of proposals for a new instrument must ensure that a copy of the technical appraisal form is emailed to Jürg Rey, juerg@ing.iac.es by the proposal submission deadline.

So you want to bring your instrument to the ING:

• As you go through the instrument design and feasibility study you may wish to make initial astronomical and engineering enquires to ING staff. Our web pages identify astronomical and engineering staff contacts.
• At some point you must make a statement of intent. That is, you formally contact the Director of ING, Marc Balcells, to indicate that you intend to submit a proposal to use your instrument at the ING. This should be done no later than three months in advance of the proposal deadlines.
• The Director then informs the management group of the proposal. The Head of Astronomy and Head of Engineering will identify a single point of contact in their respective groups to acts as ING liaison. This information is passed to the visitor instrument group, and all further correspondence and information requests should be addressed through these staff members.
• The engineer assigned to the instrument should ensure that the technical appraisal form is completed prior to the submission deadline date.