Call for proposals to use the WSRT

Observing proposals are solicited for all of the available observing time on the WSRT in Semester 12B, running from 01 June 2012 through 30 November 2012.

Astronomers from all countries can apply for observing time on the WSRT; all proposals will be judged on their scientific merit and technical feasibility only. The titles and authors of accepted proposals since 2004 are listed online.

The proposal deadline for this call is

The WSRT array will be equipped with the full current complement of MFEE receivers until at least early 2013. A subsequent gradual transition from spring 2013 onward is planned to the APERTIF focal-plane array system on 12 telescopes. Once completed, this will yield a superb wideband 21/18 cm surveying capability, but with a somewhat reduced pointed sensitivity, and with observing at the other traditional WSRT MFFE frequencies restricted to single 25-m telescope applications.

In view of the timescale of the transition, in particular those astronomers who wish to make use of the "classical" WSRT capabilities for large projects, and those who wish to have night-time observations specifically in the "B" semester (i.e. June-September), are urged to submit their proposals at this time.

Large programmes are defined as taking up at least 250 hours in a semester. Proposals in this category can use up to 4 pages (instead of 2) for their combined scientific and technical justification. The PC may impose special requirements concerning rapid public data access, project management, progress, etc.

Classical long term projects, spanning multiple, consecutive semesters, will not be considered any more, unless they are aiming at monitoring over 2 semesters capable of using a limited capacity of 6-8 telescopes in the transitional phase towards Apertif.

Descriptions of the Urgent and Service proposal categories can be found via the  "Policy for WSRT Observing" of the ASTRON web site; these can be submitted at any time.

General information on the capabilities of the WSRT, with its 14x25m dishes, suite of sensitive receivers spanning 250 MHz to 8.7 GHz, powerful and flexible correlator, and pulsar and VLBI backends, can be obtained online.

Proposers should consider designing projects and samples to take advantage of the opportunities afforded by the generally unevenly distributed oversubscription as a function of Right Ascension (i.e., LST); some recent histograms are shown online. Proposals for projects that can be executed in multiple 24 hour blocks are also expressly invited, because of the logistical ease in carrying them out.

Since Semester 10B, astronomers can query the WSRT archive online for WSRT data that have been taken since 2000.  Data that are in the public domain, can then be requested by sending email to sciencesupport [at] astron [dot] nl, identifying the project name and the sources they require.

Proposers should take note of EU encouragement to form teams with a European dimension, as it provides valuable financial support. When both the PI and at least 50% of the proposers have an affiliation outside The Netherlands, yet in an EU or affiliated country, their approved WSRT proposals are eligible for RadioNet TransNational Access support.

WSRT proposals of any kind must be submitted only via the web-based tool, NorthStar.

Once again, since semester 2012B is the last full semester with the WSRT expected to remain equipped with the full complement of MFFE receivers, proposers who wish to use maximal advantage of those capabilities are urged to submit their plans now.

The next deadline for regular as well as large proposals is:

R.C. Vermeulen
Director, Radio Observatory at ASTRON