The NRAO 12 Meter telescope is available, on a competitive basis, to all qualified scientists and students without regard to nationality or institutional affiliation. Financial support, in the form of travel funds and publication fees, is only provided to investigators employed by U.S. institutions. The procedure for submitting proposals to the NRAO and the mechanics of the evaluation and approval of these proposals are outlined below.
Once scheduled on the telescope, the principal investigator has the responsibility for proper supervision of all aspects of the observing program. This means, for example, that each principal investigator is responsible for obtaining all calibrations and other receiver/telescope parameters necessary for the reduction of his data. The NRAO assumes no responsibility in these matters. For this reason it is the policy of the NRAO that the principal investigator, or a collaborator, normally be in residence throughout the observations to supervise the program. We support remote observing in appropriate circumstances; for more information about this, please contact NRAO staff.
Since minor problems with the telescope system can occur which may not necessarily be repaired in time for your observing run, observers are encouraged to consult the ``current telescope system status report'' link on the NRAO Tucson Home Page before their observing run. This page is updated regularly and contains a listing of current known problems with the telescope system. Additionally, to insure that observers make the best use of their telescope time, we strongly encourage investigators to discuss their observing plans with the Friend of the Telescope before their observing run.