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Call for letters of intent for the construction of the next generation instrument for CAHA 3.5m telescope
Calar Alto is looking for competitive science cases and associated instrumentation concepts for its flagship telescope, the CAHA 3.5m. It is not expected that the current observatory mode of operation (short programs addressing all science cases) will remain in the future, but that high impact science cases requiring large allocations of time will dominate the schedule.
We are currently soliciting letters of intent from proposing teams that will be evaluated by Calar Alto's Scientific Advisory Committee, which will recommend the most promising science-cases/instruments to Calar Alto's Executive Committee. Depending on this evaluation, CAHA will fund up to two design studies. It is expected that the final instrument investment should be predominantly externally funded, in return for extensive (multi-year) telescope access. In general, in particular in the context of return on the operating costs of the observatory, we encourage the close involvement of CSIC and MPG researchers. Pending a positive 2013+ decision on the future operation of CAHA (due in 2009), the chosen project will be implemented.
The letters will have no more than five pages and should present very briefly 1) the science case, 2) a sketching of the instrument characteristics, and 3) an indication of the consortium/management plan. Teams should also indicate their end-to-end strategy for the project: hardware, telescope implementation, observing strategy, analysis software, and science exploitation.
Letters of intent should be sent to
