Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2003 



           NEW: "SIRTF OBSERVATION PLANNING WORKSHOP" in EUROPE!

OVERVIEW:

 The Space Infrared Telescope Facility Science Center (SIRTF SSC) and
the Herschel Science Centre (HSC) announce a one-day, tutorial-style:
   
	       "SIRTF Observation Planning Workshop" 
	                ESTEC, room Newton 2
		     Noordwijk, The Netherlands

		      16 January 2004, 09:00-16:00

WEBPAGE: http://sirtf.caltech.edu/SSC/ost/workshop/2004janestec/	

RATIONALE:

 Following an initial in-orbit checkout and science validation period,
SIRTF is scheduled to begin normal operations in early December
2003. The first General Observer Call for Proposals has been issued, and
the deadline for proposal submission is currently 14 February 2004.

 The SSC is sponsoring 3 workshops in January 2004 to support observers
with their proposal preparation (at ESTEC in The Netherlands; at the AAS
in Atlanta, GA; and at the University of Sydney, Australia - see:
http://sirtf.caltech.edu/SSC/ost/workshop/ for more information on all
of these workshops).

PROGRAM:

 The workshop is intended for observers who wish to learn more about
planning and specifying their observations for the SIRTF. The workshop
instructors will be scientists from the SIRTF Science Center.

 The lecture component will consist of an overview of the spacecraft,
telescope and instrumentation with an emphasis on the very latest
updates to instrument capabilities determined in-flight. An interactive
session, using workstations provided in the workshop room, will provide
an introduction to planning tools available for observers, including
SPOT (the SIRTF Observations Planning Tool -- see:
http://sirtf.caltech.edu/SSC/propkit/spot/).

 Specific examples of how to plan an observation, from selected target
through to specification of instrument commanding, will be
provided. Finally, participants will be given time to apply what they
have learned in a hands-on session, with instructors available for
questions and assistance.  Workshop content will be tailored to the
needs of the registered participants.

REGISTRATION:

 Registration is open to all, first-come, first-served, up to the
facility capacity. There is no fee associated with any of the SIRTF
Observation Planning workshops.

 DEADLINE: please register by Dec. 15, 2003 to reserve your place in the
HSC/SSC ESTEC workshop.

ACCOMMODATION:

 The ESTEC accommodation office has made block reservations at a 4-star
hotel (single: 53-110 Euro, including breakfast) and at a 5-star hotel
(single: 120-140 Euro, including breakfast) for workshop
participants. The participants are asked to complete an ESTEC hotel
reservation form, available at the SSC workshop webpage:

       http://sirtf.caltech.edu/SSC/ost/workshop/2004janestec/

and send it directly to the ESTEC hotel reservation desk (contact info
is on the form).

QUESTIONS?

 Please contact the SIRTF Helpdesk: sirtf@ipac.caltech.edu