Proposals: Phase I

Please check our Proposals page for the next Phase I deadline. 

Proposing to observe with SALT is a three-step process:

  1. Read the latest call for proposals document and familiarise yourself with the time allocation criteria,
  2. Complete the science case template,
  3. Create, fill in, and submit a proposal using the PIPT before the deadline mentioned above.

SALT program guidelines

SALT is operated as a queue-scheduled telescope to efficiently make use of all available observing time. Dedicated SALT Astronomers observe several programs each night on behalf of Principal Investigators (PIs), ensuring that the evolving observing conditions align with the requirements of each individual program.

SALT is ideally suited to programs that meet one or more of the following criteria:

  • Sutherland sky is dark (V = 22.0 mag at zenith during solar minimum). This makes diffuse target spectroscopy highly competitive, benefitting from SALT’s large collecting power.
  • Targets well above the sky background can be observed efficiently, with either high time or spectral resolution.
  • Queue scheduling is ideal for programs where the targets are distributed over a wide range of sky coordinates.
  • SALT allows for on-the-fly mode and instrument changes in under a minute, making multi-configuration or multi-instrument programs easy. All instruments are available at any given time.
  • The articulated design of RSS allows for flexible observations of many custom wavelength ranges at a variety of resolutions.  The near-infrared upgrade will extend RSS capability to 1.7 microns.
  • Astronomical targets with sky surface densities well-matched to the 8 arcminute field of view are ideal for multi-object spectroscopy mode.
  • Time variability studies on time scales of less than a few hours, or greater than a day, are ideal.
  • The maximum continuous observation window varies depending on the target’s Declination, ranging from approximately 50 minutes to 3 hours. The most efficient Declinations are at below -60 degrees where more than 2 hours are available continuously. Equatorial regions also provide long and convenient visibilities per night, although the continuous exposure time is restricted to less than an hour.
    • The visibility tool allows you to check the available observation windows for your target.
  • SALT is most effectively utilised in programs where sub-arcsecond seeing and high spatial resolution are not required.
    • See the call for proposals document for a discussion of how the seeing in the focal plane is determined and influenced by telescope design.
    • The looser your seeing conditions are, the higher the likelihood of  your observations being taken.
  • Differential photometry and relative spectrophotometry are routine with SALT. However, due to the time-variable pupil geometry, accurate absolute photometry or spectrophotometry can be challenging. Refer to the call for proposals document for more details.

Phase I Tips

  • Assume the following acquisition overhead time per block:
    • RSS MOS mode: 900 seconds
    • Everything else: 600 seconds

Providing high-quality finder charts and notes for observers in Phase II is an effective way of helping us plan the semester.

  • If you are reusing a Phase I proposal from a previous semester:
    • You’ll need to create and submit a new proposal, which may be a copy of the old one.
  • If you have many targets that you don’t want to enter manually, then you can import them from a file.
    • Use the ‘Import Targets from File’ button located under the tables of mandatory and optional targets in the Targets form in the PIPT.
    • Refer to this PDF document for an outline of the required file format and examples.
    • Recently added target properties (Moon, rank, observing time) can also be specified in the file.