Aug. 17,2015

Contents:
1. Proposal submission and deadlines
2. Common-user instruments (WHT and INT)
3. Visitor instruments (WHT)
4. Observer support at the telescope
5. Observer experience

1. Proposal submission and deadlines
Information about applying for time on the 4.2-m William Herschel Telescope (WHT) and the 2.5-m Isaac Newton Telescope (INT) can be found on: http://www.ing.iac.es/astronomy/observing/INGinfo_home.html
Each observing proposal should be submitted to the time-allocation committee (TAC) of one of the three operating countries: the Netherlands, Spain or the United Kingdom. Proposers who qualify for OPTICON trans-national access time are encouraged to submit their proposals directly to OPTICON. Advice on how to submit proposals, and submission deadlines, are provided by each TAC:
Netherlands (PC)
http://www.nwo.nl/financiering/onze-financieringsinstrumenten/ew/isaac-n...
Spain (CAT)
http://www.iac.es/cat/pages/cat-nocturno/en/requesting-time.php?lang=EN
UK (PATT)
http://www.stfc.ac.uk/1506
PATT form:
http://www.ing.iac.es/astronomy/observing/patt/PATT_Appl.html
OPTICON
http://www.astro-opticon.org/fp7-2/tna/

Principal Investigators (PIs) employed or studying in a Dutch, Spanish or UK institution at the time of submission should submit their proposal(s) to the Dutch, Spanish or UK TAC respectively. PIs hosted by other countries, and Dutch, Spanish or UK PIs wishing to submit a proposal to a TAC other than that of their host country, should refer to the information provided by the relevant TAC.
For both the WHT and INT, applicants are encouraged to submit proposals for large time allocations. The Dutch, Spanish and UK TACs are all willing to consider multi-semester allocations.
Requests for observations which are likely to enhance exploitation of the upcoming surveys with WEAVE (new 1000-fibre multi-object spectrograph, at the WHT from 2018), e.g. pre-imaging, AF2 pilot spectroscopy, are also particularly welcome.
The OPTICON scheme fosters pan-European access to the ING telescopes, under the auspices of the ECfunded Research Infrastructure Programme. OPTICON time is available to eligible astronomers based in EU member states and associated states, and EC funding may be available to cover travel, accommodation and subsistence costs. Applications from new users and young researchers, and astronomers based in countries without similar research facilities, are strongly encouraged. International proposals which meet OPTICON's criteria of eligibility, but which are submitted to and awarded telescope time by the national TACs, do not qualify for OPTICON financial support.

2. Common-user instruments (WHT and INT)
The instruments available on the WHT and INT are shown on:
http://www.ing.iac.es/astronomy/observing/instruments.html

3. Visitor instruments (WHT)
Applicants wishing to submit proposals to use an established visitor instrument on the WHT should in the first instance contact the relevant person listed below:
Instrument Contact
GHaFaS John Beckman, jeb@iac.es
INTEGRAL Evencio Mediavilla, emg@iac.es
PAUCam Francisco Castander, fjcastander@gmail.com
PN.S Magda Arnaboldi, marnabol@eso.org

4. Observer support at the telescope
A summary of the observer support available at the telescope can be found on: http://www.ing.iac.es/astronomy/planning/support.html

5. Observer experience
Inexperienced WHT and INT observers must be accompanied by an experienced observer. 'Inexperienced' here means unable, alone, to make efficient (and safe) use of the observing night, whether from general lack of observing experience, or from lack of experience with the specific techniques to be used. This lack of experience will not adequately be compensated by the start-of-run training provided by observatory support staff.
In addition, it is essential that INT observers have considerable end-to-end observing experience with medium-sized telescopes. As there is no observing support assistant at the INT, observers are responsible for all aspects of operation, from opening the dome in the evening, and operating the telescope and instrumentation throughout the night, to parking the telescope and closing the dome at the end of the night or in the event of deteriorating weather conditions.
ING relies on student supervisors, and experienced members of proposing teams, to ensure that lessexperienced observers prepare adequately for their observing runs, before travelling to La Palma.