Hubble Space Telescope Call for Proposals for Cycle 11

1.4 Resources, Documentation and Tools

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1.4.1 Cycle 11 Announcement Web Page

The Cycle 11 Announcement Web Page contains links to information and documentation (including this Call for Proposals) that will be useful to you while preparing your proposals. This page will also provide any late-breaking updates on the Phase I process, and answers to frequently asked questions.

1.4.2 HST Primer

The HST Primer provides a basic introduction to the technical aspects of HST and its instruments, and explains how to request the appropriate number of orbits in a Phase I proposal. The HST Primer is accessible from the Cycle 11 Announcement Web Page.

1.4.3 Instrument Handbooks

The Instrument Handbooks are the primary source of information for the HST instruments. You should use current versions of the Instrument Handbooks when preparing a proposal. They are available for all instruments, including former instruments that may be of interest for Archival Research. The Handbooks are distributed electronically, and can be accessed from the Scientific Instruments Web Page. This page also provides links to more detailed technical information, such as that provided in Instrument Science Reports.

1.4.4 Exposure Time Calculators (ETCs)

STScI provides Exposure Time Calculators (ETCs) for each of the HST instruments. Please use these electronic tools to estimate how long you need to integrate to achieve the signal-to-noise ratio required for your project. They will also issue warnings about target count rates that exceed linearity and safety limits. The ETCs can be accessed from the Scientific Instruments Web Page.

1.4.5 The Visual Target Tuner (VTT)

STScI has released a software tool called the Visual Target Tuner (VTT). It displays HST apertures and fields of view that are superimposed on sky images. Detailed information about the VTT is accessible from the Cycle 11 Announcement Web Page. STScI welcomes all feedback on the VTT.

The VTT can be useful in Phase I proposal preparation to help answer questions such as: How many exposures will I need to mosaic my extended target? Which of my potential targets "fits best" in the aperture? Is there anything interesting I can observe with a coordinated parallel in another aperture? Do any of my potential targets have nearby bright objects that could spoil the observation? Is there an orientation which would avoid the bright object?

It is anticipated that starting in the Summer of 2001, the VTT will have an interface to the Starview software that provides access to the HST Data Archive (see Section 7.2.1 of the HST Primer). This will allow you to invoke the VTT from Starview to graphically represent Starview results on what areas of the sky have been previously been observed. Conversely it will allow you to invoke Starview from the VTT to show what observations have been made near a particular pointing.

1.4.6 HST Data Archive

The HST Data Archive contains all the data taken by HST. Completed HST observations, including both GO and GTO data, become available to the community for analysis upon expiration of their proprietary periods.

The Data Archive Web Page provides an overview of the Hubble Archive, as well as the procedures for accessing archival data (see also the introductory description in Section 7.2 of the HST Primer). A copy of the HST Data Archive is maintained at the Space Telescope - European Coordinating Facility (ST-ECF; see Appendix A.2) in Garching, to which European requests should normally be addressed. The Canadian Astronomy Data Centre (CADC; see Appendix A.3) also maintains a copy of HST science data (only), and is the preferred source for Canadian astronomers.

1.4.7 Duplication checking

The HST Data Archive provides access to several tools that allow you to check whether planned observations duplicate any previously executed or accepted HST observations. See Section 5.2.2 for details.