STScI Logo


8.14 Observation Summary (OS)


(This item appears in the APT form only for GO and SNAP proposals)

The OS lists the main characteristics of the observations that you propose to obtain. In general you must include in the OS all the configurations, modes and spectral elements that you propose to use, and all the targets that you propose to observe. Note the following:

The OS consists of individual ‘observation blocks’, each containing several separate pieces of information.

All exposures for a given target that use the same ‘configuration’, ‘Sci-
ence mode’ and ‘Coronography’ mode may be summarized in a single 
observation block. 

Observation blocks are numbered sequentially in the APT Phase I proposal form. Each observation block should include the items that are listed and discussed below in separate sub-sections.

8.14.1 Target Name

The target naming conventions for HST are defined in detail in the STScI Phase II Proposal Instructions. A direct internet link to these conventions is available on the Cycle 13 Announcement Web Page. Please adhere to these naming conventions throughout your proposal. For generic targets use a short text description either of the target location (e.g., RANDOM-FIELD) or of the target itself (e.g., NEXT-SUPERNOVA).

8.14.2 Coordinates

Supply the coordinates for fixed targets only. In Phase I, target positions with accuracies of order ±1 arcmin are sufficient for the TAC and panel review (except in crowded fields where the identity of the target may be in question). However, in Phase II significantly more accurate coordinates are required, and it is the responsibility of the proposers to provide these. See the STScI Phase II documentation for details.

8.14.3 V-Magnitude

Supply the apparent total magnitude in the V passband for the entire target (galaxy, planet, etc.), if known. For variable targets, please give the brightest V magnitude expected during the observations. This information is used only for scientific review, not for exposure-time calculations. Note that some of the instruments have bright object safety limits. Observations that violate these limits are infeasible. See Section 5.1 of the HST Primer, or the Instrument Handbooks (see Section 1.4.3) for details.

8.14.4 Configuration

Enter the Scientific Instrument configuration. A pull-down menu shows the available and allowed options.

8.14.5 Science Mode

Enter the science mode. A pull-down menu shows the available and allowed options (which depend on the choice of Configuration).

8.14.6 Coronography

If you are proposing coronographic observations with STIS, NICMOS, or ACS, then set this keyword to ‘yes’.

8.14.7 Selected Element(s)

Enter all of the desired spectral elements (i.e., filters and gratings) using the ‘Spectral Element Selection’ screen. Pull-down menus show the available and allowed options (which depend on the choice of Configuration and Science Mode). Note the following:

8.14.8 Total Orbits

Enter the total number of orbits (i.e., the sum of the orbits for all the exposures to which the given observation block refers). Consult Chapter 6 of the HST Primer for instructions on how to calculate the appropriate number of orbits for your observations.

8.14.9 Special Requirement Checkboxes

Mark one or more of the special requirement checkboxes, if applicable. The meanings of the checkboxes are indicated in the table below. Note that for snapshot observations, only the ‘duplication’ checkbox is allowed.

Table 8.1:  Special Requirement Flags for the Observation Summary
Flag
Use this flag for
Coordinated Parallel
All of the exposures specified in this observation block are to be done in coordinated parallel mode (see Section 4.2).
CVZ
Continuous Viewing Zone observations (see Section 4.1.1).
Duplication
Observations which duplicate or might be perceived to duplicate previous or upcoming GO and/or GTO exposures (see Section 5.2.1).
Low Sky
Low-sky observations (see Section 5.5.1 of the HST Primer).
Shadow
Shadow Time observations (see Section 5.5.2 of the HST Primer).
Target of Opportunity
Target-of-Opportunity observations (see Section 4.1.2).
Pure Parallel
All of the exposures specified in this observation block are to be done in pure parallel mode (see Section 4.2).


Space telescope Science Institute
http://www.stsci.edu