A Common Time Allocation for all European Solar Telescopes

A common observing time allocation process for European Solar Telescopes is one of the goals of the trans-national ACCESS program of OPTICON (FP7). EAST has established such a European Time Allocation Committee:

• The EAST TAC provides a common standard of review for all observing proposals.

• The EAST TAC allocates (1) the OPTICON time of the trans-national ACCESS program, and (2) the time of the International Time Program of the International Scientific Committee (CCI). The involved Solar Telecopes are DOT, SST, THEMIS, and VTT.

• The EAST TAC members represent the national panels of the 4 Solar telescopes and the CCI. Two independent external referees evaluate and rank the incoming proposals.

The common time allocation committee for all European telescopes ensures high scientific quality, avoids duplication, and encourages synergy.

For more information on the EAST TAC contact R. Schlichenmaier (Kiepenheuer-Institut fuer Sonnenphysik).