1. Observing with our telescopes
In the present resource framework, service observations can be
offered for VLBI programs run outside the framework of INAF
international agreements (EVN, eVLBI, RadioAstron, etc.), under
specific conditions (see section 3). Single-dish programs
submitted to, and approved by the TAC will be run in guest mode.
For the SRT and Noto the PI is asked to
guarantee the presence of a member of the proponent team at
the telescope when observations are scheduled. Remote
observing is available at the Medicina antenna. In the future it is
planned to extend this observing mode also to the Noto
antenna and to the SRT. Proper training and assistance are
provided to novice users.
The Italian antennas of Medicina,
Noto, and SRT are equipped with a common control software -
developed in the framework of the DISCOS
project - allowing optimised single-dish observations.
2. Which antenna(s) to use?
The three antennas form a single coordinated facility; users can
submit a single proposal to request time either on one or more
telescopes.
Proposers are asked
to justify the choice of a specific antenna over the others
(sensitivity issues, available receivers, etc.).
Simultaneous single-dish observations
are possible, as much as interferometric projects
involving two or more Italian antennas (and, if needed,
international facilities).
Notably, the proposal form now contains an additional section
in which the authors declare whether their program is suitable
for possible re-allocation to one of the other antennas, in
case the preferred one is unavailable - e.g because
higher-rank programs are filling the schedule or unexpected
technical issues arise. If such an option is chosen, the
proposers are requested to specify the increase (or reduction)
in observing time for each target that is needed to obtain the
original scientific goals. This provides the projects with
more opportunities: if re-allocation is acceptable to the
proposers, the TAC could suggest to move the program to
another antenna, under the obvious constraint that the
expected scientific aims have to be matched.
3. Italian VLBI and non-EVN interferometric projects
This call includes VLBI observations
being requested outside the EVN or IVS coordination. VLBI
observers must take care of organizing the availability of
international telescopes if needed by their observations. They
are also required to arrange the storage and correlation of
their data. Correlation time and disk space (also for VLBI
experiments to be correlated elsewhere) can be provided for
Medicina and Noto; PIs are invited to contact us prior to
submission, in order to assess the availability of these
services - and the availability of operators - for their
specific needs. Please note that, if granted antenna time,
proposers will be in charge of producing the schedule files
for their observations.
4. Recovery of lost observing time
The recovering of observing time lost for weather-related
downtime or technical failures
cannot be granted by
default. Observers are required to fill in the
end-of-mission report, indicating the amount of lost time and
its causes, for future evalutation and possible allocation of
recovery time within the same observing semester.
For recovery time requests, PIs must send an e-mail to the
Directors (in CC to the RDO and schedulers) of the involved
facilities.
Observing time of a scheduled project lost because of the
override of ToO or NAPA observations (see
offered programs) will be
rescheduled on a best–effort basis.
5. MoU and LoIs policy
INAF requires that proposers who mention Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) or Letter of Intents (LoIs) in support of
their proposals provide the TAC with a copy of such MoUs or
LoIs. In particular, these formal agreements must already be
active when the Call for Proposals is issued, and copies of the
documents must be submitted to the TAC Chair along with the
standard proposal form.
Three types of MoUs are expected to be involved:
- those between groups, or groups and other Institutes
- those between groups and INAF
- those between INAF and other Institutes
6. EATING VLBI
According to the MoA between INAF and KASI up to 30 hours of
observing time in VLBI mode are allocated to approved EATING
VLBI projects. These projects have to be submitted both to the
Italian and Korean TACs with the standard form selecting "EATING
VLBI" mode in the project type. Approved projects will be
observed up to 30 hours/semester. Projects exceeding 30 hours
will be scheduled together with all other projects according to
their relative grades. PIs of these proposals must be associated
with INAF or KASI.
7. Proprietary time
For standard, large, NAPA and ToO
proposals a proprietary time of 1 year applies, starting from
the acquisition date. A longer period may be requested for
long (multi-term) projects and legacy projects. In these
cases, the PI must specify the requested period and justify it
within the proposal providing scientific motivations. The TAC
will decide whether to accept the requested extensions to the
standard duration of the proprietary period.
8. Disclosure of proposal information
When a proposal is approved, basic information regarding it will
be published online. In particular, the following data will be
made publicly available: project ID, Principal Investigator, PI
affiliation, proposal title, awarded hours, project type
(regular, NAPA, long, large), requested telescope(s) (SRT,
Medicina, Noto). By submitting a proposal, PIs implicitly accept
this policy.
